Phthalate exposure in early life may lead to anxiety, rat study suggests

Article excerpt

Male rats exposed to DEHP, a common plasticizer found in many consumer products, showed heightened anxiety as adults, researchers reported at the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in Chicago. The study adds to growing evidence that early-life contact with phthalates, chemicals used to soften plastics, may alter behavior and neurological development. Scientists exposed developing rats to the chemical and tracked their anxiety levels over time, finding measurable differences compared to unexposed animals. The findings raise questions about human health risks, though the leap from rodent studies to people remains substantial. Phthalates are ubiquitous in vinyl, cosmetics, and food packaging, making exposure nearly unavoidable in modern life.