Good grief — something new for pregnant women to worry about.
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that a study presented at the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting suggests that phthalates, the “chemicals used in many plastics, packaging materials and personal care products appear to be associated with the disruption of a key pregnancy hormone” called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). After analyzing data on “350 women and their babies,” researchers found that “exposure to phthalates might inhibit masculinization of the genitals in baby boys.”
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the study’s “findings build on an Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai study published last month in the journal Human Reproduction, which detailed how phthalates target hCG in the placenta, with measurable impacts in the mother’s blood throughout pregnancy.” Currently, the FDA “regulates phthalates ‘as food-contact substances’ because high levels of phthalates ‘can affect the endocrine system,’ said FDA spokeswoman Theresa Eisenman.” Medical Daily also covers the study.
From the news release of the American Association for Justice.
