Study links exposure to widely used DINCH plasticiser with smaller newborns

A new peer-reviewed study links exposure to DINCH, a plasticiser promoted as a safer replacement for phthalates, with lower birth weight and length. The findings matter because DINCH is widely used in food packaging and other everyday products, while evidence about its health effects remains limited.

Researchers analysed data from more than 6,600 pregnancies in a US health programme. Up to 70% of women had DINCH detected in their urine, and each tenfold increase in exposure was associated with a 27-gram reduction in newborn weight; higher exposure was also linked to a greater chance of being small for gestational age. Global production rose from 25,000 tonnes in 2002 to 400,000 tonnes in 2024, renewing concerns about replacing restricted chemicals before substitutes are properly assessed.