16/10/2008
Scientists have found a chemical in plastics called MEHP that impairs the development of the reproductive organs of boys when they are exposed in the womb. The chemical, a phthalate, directly harms the development of cells that make sperm. In a ground-breaking study, scientists have established that a specific phthalate known as MEHP can directly harm the development of special sperm-making germ cells in the testes of human male fetuses. Phthalates are ubiquitous chemicals found in plastics, medical care products and consumer goods. Virtually everyone is exposed to them on some level, and there is growing concerns that babies and children might be especially vulnerable to adverse health and developmental effects. Phthalates have been found in urine soaked diapers of babies after parents applied baby lotions and soaps. Moreover, phthalates have been linked to altered development of boys' reproductive organs when exposed in the womb. Nevertheless, definitive proof that phthalates caused the altered development was lacking. That is until this new study demonstrated that MEHP caused sperm making cells from a fetus to die, thus impacting the potential amount of sperm made and thus the fertility of that boy when he grows into a man.

• The study

Source: www.environmentalhealthnews.org/