Study Links Phthalate Used in Food Packaging to Tumor Growth
Scientists at Northwestern Medicine have demonstrated a causal link between di-(2-ethylhexyl) (DEHP), a phthalate commonly used in food packaging, and uterine fibroid growth. DEHP is one of the most widely used phthalates in consumer goods, and it has been associated with a number of negative health consequences.
The Northwestern Medicine study sought to explain the mechanisms behind the association between phthalate exposure and uterine fibroid growth. The scientists discovered that exposure to DEHP may activate a hormonal pathway that triggers an environmentally responsive receptor to bind to DNA and cause increased growth of fibroid tumors.