Certain chemicals commonly found in soft plastics and other household products can lower testosterone in men, women and children, a new study has found.  Low testosterone can suppress the development of boys' sexual organs and negatively affect health in many ways in both men and women.

Testosterone the main sex hormone found in men and also in women and children plays a crucial role in many physiological functions or health conditions including but not limited to brain function, bone density, growth, and heart health.

The chemicals of concern were phthalates, whose toxicity has been known for a long time.  University of Michigan tested testosterone levels in more than 2,200 people enrolled in the 2011-12 U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and found the detrimental effect of these chemicals.

Phthalates are used to make plastics soft and found in PVC plastics and many personal care products.  And the study found increased exposure to phthalates associated with significantly reduced levels of circulating testosterone.  The mostly affected populations were boys ages 6 to 12 years and men and women ages 40 to 60 years.

The study was published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.  (David Liu, PHD)