Study: Phthalate Exposure Impacts Boys

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Traces of a chemical found in everyday food products, plastics, soaps and lotions may push young boys away from trucks and playful fighting.

New research suggests that when phthalates, chemicals used to soften plastics, are found in a mother's urine, boys may suffer from genital defects, metabolic abnormalities and reduced testosterone. Studies specifically studied the effects of two harmful phthalates, DEHP and DBP, and results are consistent with previous studies. Girl's behavior was not affected.

“Because testosterone produces the masculine brain, researchers are concerned that fetal exposure to anti-androgens such as phthalates -- which are pervasive in the environment -- has the potential to alter masculine brain development," Shanna H. Swan, Ph.D., professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, director of the University of Rochester Center for Reproductive Epidemiology and lead author of the study, was quotes as saying.

The study included 145 school children. Researchers began by testing a mother's urine during the 28th week of pregnancy. Mothers completed questionnaires regarding their children ages three and a half to six and a half years old. Questions were designed to decipher between playful behavior between sexes, focusing on types of toys children chose, activities, and child characteristics. Researchers say that higher concentrations of DEHP and DBP metabolites were linked to less masculine play.

Experts most common concern for exposure to phthalates is through food, where it may be introduced through processing, packaging, storage, or heating food, using products that contain PVC.

SOURCE: International Journal of Andrology, 2009

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