Phthalates’ Regulatory Standards May not Protect People’s Health, New Study

Researchers Found Health Impacts at Exposure Levels That are 8,000 Times Lower Than Some Regulatory Limits.

Phthalate's can be found in many products including children's toys. Tai's Captures/Unsplash

This story was originally published on the Environmental Health News website.“Safe” limits on human exposure to phthalates set by national and international regulatory authorities may not adequately protect public health, according to a new analysis published in the journal Environmental Health on Monday.

The study, synthesizing dozens of human studies, drew significant associations between phthalate exposure and human reproductive, neurodevelopmental, behavioral, hormonal, and metabolic health problems. It also underpins the need for reassessing regulatory standards with up-to-date science.