Some environmental chemicals are associated with postpartum depression in new mothers, suggests new research.

The prospective study including 139 pregnant women noted that those having greater prenatal exposure to certain endocrine-disrupting chemicals commonly found in plastics had an increased risk of developing postpartum depression 4 months following birth. The odds of developing postpartum depression appeared to increase considerably (OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.04-2.11) with exposure to di-n-octyl phthalate (DnOP), which is commonly found in medical tubing and food packaging. The relationship appeared to be guided by a reduction in progesterone concentrations, noted researchers in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism… (Medpage Today)