Exposure To Plastics’ Chemical During Pregnancy May Impact Genital Development In Baby Boys

Researchers found that baby boys born to moms with greater exposure to a chemical called DiNP tended to have a shorter anogenital distance -- the space between the genitals and anus. Anogenital distance is set in the womb, and it's considered a marker of exposure to androgens ("male" hormones) during pregnancy. Chemical is added to plastics to make them more flexible and difficult to break. They are used in a huge range of products, from electrical cables, auto parts and construction materials to cosmetics, shoes and toys (though U.S. manufacturers stopped using them in pacifiers, teething rings and rattles in 1999). People can also be exposed to low levels of phthalates in food, since much of the food supply comes in contact with plastics. http://consumer.healthday.com/women-s-health-information-34/birth-health-news-61/plasticizer-may-affect-baby-boys-genital-development-693162.html