Phthalates have been in use for years in a variety of products throughout the world but have now gradually begun to be eliminated as many of their ingredients are now known to cause health issues in certain individuals due to toxic components.
Phthalates are primarily used as plasticizers, substances added to plastics that increase their flexibility, directly affecting their durability and longevity. Common usage of phthalates can be seen in gelling agents, waxes, paints, modeling clay, printing inks, caulks, adhesives, shower curtains, vinyl upholstery, and food wrappers, just to name a few. However, one of the most common usages of phthalates is as a part of the coating for pharmaceutical pills and nutritional supplements.
Perhaps the most controversial study in recent years was published in the November 2009 version of the International Journal of Andrology, which suggests that “prenatal exposure to anti-androgenic phthalates may be associated with less male-typical behavior in boys...and…that these ubiquitous environmental chemicals have the potential to alter the androgen-responsible brain development in humans.” This study has prompted a flurry of attention within the medical community since the study was first undertaken at the University of Rochester.
The study itself has many individuals understandably concerned, not the least of which is due to the potentially ground-breaking significance of the findings with respect to environmental factors associated with homosexuality. As has been well-documented, homosexual tendencies are generally recognized at a very early age, well before the onset of puberty and thus are most commonly recognized to be of genetic origin as opposed to a simple lifestyle ‘choice’. The University of Rochester research suggests that the feminization process occurs during pregnancy when phthalate exposure may cause hormonal disruptions in the unborn child, with male children being feminized by a disruption in the testosterone levels. Additionally, the study also showed a strong correlation between the types of toys that male children played with and the levels of phthalates their mothers had been exposed to during pregnancy. The research discovered that male children exposed to higher levels of phthalates tended to avoid playing with cars, trains, or toy guns, for example, instead preferring more feminine activities such as playing house, tea parties, and more feminine toys such as dolls.
It is crucial to note that this research is fairly one-sided at best. While there can be no doubt about certain side effects of phthalates and their links to obesity and metabolic interference, the question as to whether these substances are able to influence a male child’s hormonal patterns has yet to be determined with any sort of clarity. As with many research studies, substantial additional work is required prior to establishing a definitive correlation with respect to phthalates and sexual preference. In any event, due to the inherent dangers that have been proven, eliminating or reducing the use of or exposure to phthalates is a wise precaution for everyone, male or female.
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