Jay
Fri, Jun-29-07, 06:16
Phthalates are a group of chemical compounds that are mainly
used as plasticizers (substances added to plastics to increase
their flexibility). They are chiefly used to turn polyvinyl
chloride from a hard plastic into a flexible plastic. So
ubiquitous, they are commonly found in household dust and
blood samples from humans, embilical cords, polar bears and
seal in the artic.
2004 - a joint Swedish-Danish research team found a very
strong link between allergies in children and the phthalates
DEHP and BBzP.
2005 - study reported that phthalates may mimic the female
hormone oestrogen (see xenoestrogens), and cause
"feminisation" of baby boys.
In the study by the University of Missouri in Columbia, urine
samples were collected from pregnant women in four United
States cities. All were found to have levels of phthalate
residues in their urine. Upon birth of the children whose
mother's urine had been previously measured, the genital
features and anogenital distance were measured and correlated
with the residue levels in the mother's urine. In boys, the
highest levels of residue were seven times more likely to have
a shortened anogenital distance. There was also a correlation
between heightened residue levels and smaller penis sizes.
Boys with smaller penises were more likely to have testes that
didn't descend properly into the scrotum.
2007 report by researchers at Rochester School of Medicine and
Dentistry stated that the concentrations of 3 phthalate
metabolites commonly found in urine correlate with men's waist
size and with the body cells' resistance to insulin, a
precursor to Type II diabetes.
>From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalates
used as plasticizers (substances added to plastics to increase
their flexibility). They are chiefly used to turn polyvinyl
chloride from a hard plastic into a flexible plastic. So
ubiquitous, they are commonly found in household dust and
blood samples from humans, embilical cords, polar bears and
seal in the artic.
2004 - a joint Swedish-Danish research team found a very
strong link between allergies in children and the phthalates
DEHP and BBzP.
2005 - study reported that phthalates may mimic the female
hormone oestrogen (see xenoestrogens), and cause
"feminisation" of baby boys.
In the study by the University of Missouri in Columbia, urine
samples were collected from pregnant women in four United
States cities. All were found to have levels of phthalate
residues in their urine. Upon birth of the children whose
mother's urine had been previously measured, the genital
features and anogenital distance were measured and correlated
with the residue levels in the mother's urine. In boys, the
highest levels of residue were seven times more likely to have
a shortened anogenital distance. There was also a correlation
between heightened residue levels and smaller penis sizes.
Boys with smaller penises were more likely to have testes that
didn't descend properly into the scrotum.
2007 report by researchers at Rochester School of Medicine and
Dentistry stated that the concentrations of 3 phthalate
metabolites commonly found in urine correlate with men's waist
size and with the body cells' resistance to insulin, a
precursor to Type II diabetes.
>From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalates