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A chemical used to make plastic more flexible, once introduced as a safer substitute for older additives now known to be harmful, may itself be harmful, slowing babies' growth in the womb, a new study shows.

A growing body of evidence has tied phthalates—substances used to make everyday products, such as food packaging, medical devices and toys—to an increased risk of premature birth, infertility and other health concerns. In response, plastics manufacturers have begun replacing phthalates with newer chemicals, including diisononyl cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate (DINCH).

Led by NYU Langone Health researchers, the analysis of 6,617 pregnancies linked higher levels of DINCH in the urine of pregnant women to lighter and smaller newborns. Every tenfold increase in exposure to DINCH was linked to a 27-gram (1-ounce) reduction in newborn birth weight.

"Our findings suggest that a chemical promoted as a safer replacement for phthalates and other plasticizers may affect how babies grow in the womb," said study lead author Leonardo Trasande, M.D., M.P.P., the Jim G. Hendrick, M.D., professor of pediatrics at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.

"Even small differences in birth size can matter because fetal growth problems can raise the risk for heart disease, learning difficulties, obesity and other issues that can echo into adolescence and adulthood."

Laboratory studies in animals and human cells suggest that when DINCH breaks down in the body, its byproducts can interfere with hormones that guide fetal development and trigger inflammation that may affect how nutrients and oxygen reach the baby.

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