Neurocognitive consequences of iatrogenicphthalate exposure during critical illness in children: a study of a development and validation cohort

Introduction Phthalates are chemical additives incorporated in PVCbased materials to make them more pliable. Intensive care management, especially in the pediatric setting, relies heavily on the use of soft and flexible indwelling medical devices. As phthalates are not chemically bound to these devices, they can leach during use [1,2]. Environmental phthalate exposure has been associated with attention deficit disorders in children [3,4].