Study: Plastic Chemical 'Feminizes' Boys

A new study has found that a chemical in plastic is potentially making boys "more feminine."

Researchers at the University of Rochester discovered that boys who were exposed to high levels of phthalates while they were in the womb were less likely to play with boys' toys like cars or join in rough-and-tumble games, according to the BBC News.

Phthalates have the ability to disrupt hormones because they mimic estrogen, the primary female hormone. The chemical is used in plastic furniture, vinyl flooring, shower curtains and even some food packaging. Past research has revealed that phthalates can create genital abnormalities in boys .

The study examined urine samples from mothers while they were pregnant for traces of phthalates. After giving birth, the women were asked what toys their children, aged 4 to 7, liked to play with.

The results revealed that boys who were exposed to high levels of two phthalates, DEHP and DBP, were less likely than other boys to play with cars, trains and guns, or engage in playfighting. No effect was found on girls who were born to mothers with high levels of phthalates.

"We now know that phthalates, to which we are all constantly exposed, are extremely worrying from a health perspective, leading to disruption of male reproduction health and, it appears, male behavior too," Elizabeth Salter-Green, director of the chemical campaigns group CHEM Trust, told the BBC . "This feminizing capacity of phthalates makes them true 'gender benders.'"

Dr. Sarah Janssen, staff scientist at the National Resource Defense Council, said that the study is a wake-up call about the dangers of phthalates. ''This study by itself shouldn't make parents panic, but I do think we are beginning to accumulate more and more evidence that exposure to phthalates, especially during pregnancy, can be harmful for the development of baby boys," Janssen told WebMD .

WebMD advises moms-to-be to limit their exposure to phthalates by avoiding heavily fragranced shampoos and lotions, and air fresheners. The Consumer Product Safety Act of 2008 banned six phthalates from toys, dolls and teethers. Many of these products display a "No phthalates" label.