Exposure to Chemical may Feminize Boys’ Play

Chicago Tribune – Preschool boys exposed in utero to high levels of certain chemicals called phthalates (prounounced “thal-lates”) may be less likely to play with male-typical toys and games, such as trucks and play fighting, according to a small pilot study published in the International Journal of Andrology. The two phthalates that were linked to boys’ play behavior, diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP), are the phthalates of most concern to scientists because they have been shown to lower testosterone in humans and animals. Read Article

Tags: children & maternity, gender & sexuality, pollution & toxins