Toxic Nation | Pollution. It's In You.

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A recent University of Rochester study of women showed that male children exposed to high doses of two phthalates (DEHP and DBP) in the womb were less likely to have “male-typical behaviour”.

A new interactive web site graphically depicts the latest science surrounding the effects of controversial chemicals on babies in the womb. “Critical Windows of Development” is an electronic database that presents a timeline of fetus development and provides information on the potential health effects that can result from low exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals.

For all those who thought fragranced products were great ways to spruce up the home, a bit of a warning.

A study published in the Environmental Impact Assessment Review journal says that most fragranced products for the home emit a number of toxic chemicals into the air, deteriorating your indoor air quality and endangering your health.

A study in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives has linked a genital defect in babies with the exposure of mothers to hairspray in the workplace. Study results indicate that exposure to hairspray may double the risk of children being born with hypospadias, a condition where the urinary tract is found away from the penis.

The study involved interviews of 470 women with babies born with hypospadias, and the same number of women with children that did not have the birth defect. All women gave birth between 1997 and 1998.

Just when you thought you knew about the sources of phthalates and how to avoid them, new information comes to light.

Scientists at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Harvard School of Public Health say there are at least 47 prescription medications that contain the chemical. Used as a coating on timed-release drugs, the exposure to phthalates for those taking these medications can exceed other well-known sources by 10 to 1000-fold.