Source name: Mount Sinai
Reference type: Press Release
Date of study or article: September 26, 2018
Summary: Medical equipment such as nasal prongs that deliver oxygen and air pressure to children in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are a significant source of phthalate exposure in the NICU.
In the U.S. 300,000 children are admitted to the NICU – some for weeks or months. Of those, an estimated 200,000 use such medical equipment.
The heat and humidity in NICU increases the amount of phthalates released.
Notable quotes:
“Our study suggests exposure to common and clinically impactful phthalates still exists, despite efforts by hospital NICUs and medical equipment manufacturers to limit exposure by changing the materials used in feeding supplies. The big takeaway is that there is still more that can be done to protect developmentally vulnerable newborns in the hospital environment,” says Dr. Stroustrup.
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