Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain
the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in
Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles
and JavaScript.
The article “Maternal di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate exposure increases the risk of congenital heart disease in mice offspring,” published in Paediatric Research, is a study that could significantly impact public health. The authors have carried out a thorough study of the influence of the widely used plasticiser di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) on embryonic heart development. Using a mouse model, researchers Shi et al. have delved into the causes for the higher likelihood of congenital heart disease (CHD) delivery in expecting mothers exposed to DEHP. This work verifies previous epidemiological studies and opens avenues for further studies of vulnerable pregnant women’s populations exposed to plastic in low- and middle-income countries. The study offers a new insight on the molecular mechanisms at work. It also predicts a possible therapy that might be obtained by using choline supplements. Included in the study are the public health consequences, the significance of the findings, and the subjects deserving more research.
