New in EHP: Ubiquitous plastic additive DEHP alters sexual behavior in mice

Though you may have never heard of DEHP, it's the most common phthalate on the planet, used to make plastics in consumer products, packaging, and medical devices more flexible or durable. DEHP represents more than a third of the global plasticizer market and has been detected in more than 75% of analyzed individuals in industrial countries. It's also a known endocrine disruptor. The combination points to a potentially significant impact on public health that researchers are just beginning to understand. One area that has received particular interest is reproductive health. A new study in EHP offers intriguing evidence of a link with altered courtship behavior in otherwise healthy adult male mice via a reduction in the number of androgen receptors in the brain. I wrote a news story on the new research for EHP, which you can find here.