Phthalate plasticizers are so ubiquitous that nearly everyone comes in daily contact with them through plastics, personal care products, and countless other consumer and industrial products. Studies in laboratory animals and wildlife show that phthalates can cause a variety of reproductive and developmental problems in offspring, in part by disrupting normal hormonal functioning.The epidemiologic evidence is weaker by comparison, but some studies have reported associations with reproductive1 and neurodevelopmental outcomes, as well as with asthma and allergic conditions. A study in Environmental Health Perspectives now reports that prenatal exposure to phthalates may elevate the risk of eczema in boys.
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