P LASTICS AND YOUR C HILD Nathalie Maitre MD, PhD Assistant Professor of Pediatrics Research Director, NICU Follow-Up Clinics Division of Neonatology The Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt

D ISCLOSURE I NFORMATION C ENTER IN MOLECULAR TOXICOLOGY C OMMUNITY OUTREACH AND E NGAGEMENT C ORE NATHALIE MAITRE, MD PHD o I have no financial relationships to disclose o I will not discuss any registered brand products in my presentation

W HAT ARE “ PLASTICS ”?

P LASTIC A DDITIVES = Potentially Toxic Yang et al. Environ Health Perspect 2011

H OW DO THE BONDS BETWEEN PLASTICS AND ADDITIVES BREAK ? ultraviolet (UV) radiation (sunlight) microwave radiation moist heat (boiling or dishwashing) T HE RESULT IS THAT ADDITIVES LEACH OUT OF PLASTICS.

P LASTIC A DDITIVES AS HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES Phthalates (PVC) BPA (BisphenolA) Styrene …

T O W HOM ARE PLASTICS MOST HAZARDOUS ? Developing fetus Infant Young child

H OW CAN THEY BE TOXIC ? Carcinogens Neurotoxins Endocrine disruptors Estrogen Activators Inflammatory mediators

H EALTH CONCERNS OF PLASTICS : E STROGEN A CTIVITY early puberty obesity  sperm counts altered reproductive function altered sex-specific behaviors increased rates of some breast, ovarian, testicular, and prostate cancers

W HAT MAKES PLASTICS MORE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR CHILD ? Heating (any kind of heat) Breakdown (the more they are used, the more the additives leach out) Harsh detergents Sunlight

H OW CAN YOU KNOW WHERE PLASTICS ARE FOUND ? Modified from

H OW CAN THE RISKS OF PLASTICS BE MINIMIZED ? Eliminate as many as possible Replace when possible with biopolymers, metal, glass, wood If not possible, replace with less toxic plastics Look at the recycling signs “BPA free” is NOT toxin free (and sometimes not really BPA free!)

B IOPOLYMERS Wheat or corn based Used to make wrappings, containers, diapers…

T HE REALITY OF LIVING WITH PLASTICS They are everywhere and some may be dangerous Try to reduce your child’s exposure Try to reduce the amount of dangerous plastics in the environment Don’t always focus on them! #1 reason for happy healthy children who have good neurodevelopment is a loving supportive family!