Why Some Boys Play With Dolls
A study on 145 pre-school children, measured their mother’s prenatal urine for elevations of two common phthalates. The finding showed that in mothers where levels of these phthalates were elevated during pregnancy, their sons were less likely to take part in games typical of males, like play fighting and play with toys such as trucks.
Lead author Shanna H. Swan Ph.D professor of Obstetricts and Gynecology, director of the URMC Center for Reproductive Epidemiology, and expert in phthalates said, “Because testosterone produces the masculine brain, researchers are concerned that fetal exposure to anti-androgens such as phthalates – which are pervasive in the environment – has the potential to alter masculine brain development”.
Previous findings also showed that phthalates altered male genital development.
Food packaged, stored or cooked in plastic is a major source of exposure for humans. Phthalates are used to soften plastic, soaps, shampoos, lotions, vinyl and many other household products. You can find more information on phthalates at Wikipedia
Another study published in February 2008 also found “Babies Recently Treated With Lotion, Shampoo, And Powder More Likely To Have Phthalates Chemicals In Urine“.
And the recent study can be found here http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091116085040.htm
Hi Jeanette.
Plastics sure are starting to show far-reaching effects, and it is not so great that there is loads of it in the ocean, and continuing to be added to the ocean.
Information like this shows up slowly over time after research is conducted on it, so things we do today might not be found out as being harmful until 30 years from now.
I would assume that engineers that find out suitable ways for bacteria or machines to clean the oceans of plastics in any ways will be heavily supported by government funding.
Relevant stuff here.