Protecting Children’s Developing Brains: Hazards of Plastics and Chemicals in Plastics

A briefing paper by Project TENDR synthesizes the latest science on fetal and early childhood exposures to plastics and the resulting harm to children’s developing brains. It outlines the widespread exposure to plastics and associated chemicals, such as ortho-phthalates, bisphenols, and flame retardants, which are linked to cognitive deficits and developmental disabilities in children.

The paper makes several recommendations to strengthen the global plastics treaty, including measures to address the toxicity and proliferation of plastics, and to regulate chemicals by class. Following the recent wrap-up of the third round of treaty negotiations in May, the treaty is set to begin the final session of negotiations in October 2024. 

In this webinar, Dr. Linda Birnbaum, Dr. Carmen Marsit, and Maureen Swanson discussed how children’s developing brains are harmed by the effects of plastics and toxic chemicals in plastics.