Prenatal phthalate exposure and reduced masculine play in boys
Open accessAbstract
Summary: Foetal exposure to antiandrogens alters androgen‐sensitive development in male rodents, resulting in less male‐typical behaviour. Foetal phthalate exposure is also associated with male reproductive development in humans, but neurodevelopmental outcomes have seldom been examined in relation to phthalate exposure. To assess play behaviour in relation to phthalate metabolite concentration in prenatal urine samples, we recontacted participants in the Study for Future Families whose phthalate metabolites had been measured in mid‐pregnancy urine samples. Mothers completed a questionnaire including the Pre‐School Activities Inventory, a validated instrument used to assess sexually dimorphic play behaviour. We examined play behaviour scores (masculine, feminine and composite) in relationship to (log 10) phthalate metabolite concentrations in mother’s urine separately for boys (N = 74) and girls (N = 71). Covariates (child’s age, mother’s age and education and parental attitude towards atypical play choices) were controlled using multivariate regression models. Concentrations of dibutyl phthalate metabolites, mono‐n‐butyl phthalate (MnBP) and mono‐isobutyl phthalate (MiBP) and their sum, were associated with a decreased (less masculine) composite score in boys (regression coefficients −4.53,−3.61 and −4.20, p = 0.01, 0.07 and 0.04 for MnBP, MiBP and their sum respectively). Concentrations of two urinary metabolites of di(2‐ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), mono‐(2‐ethyl‐5‐oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP) and mono‐(2‐ethyl‐5‐hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP) and the sum of these DEHP metabolites plus mono(2‐ethylhexyl) phthalate were associated with a decreased masculine score (regression coefficients −3.29,−2.94 and −3.18, p = 0.02, 0.04 and 0.04) for MEHHP, MEOHP and the sum respectively. No strong associations were seen between behaviour and urinary concentrations of any other phthalate metabolites in boys, or between girls’ scores and any metabolites. These data, although based on a small sample, suggest that prenatal exposure to antiandrogenic phthalates may be associated with less male‐typical play behaviour in boys. Our findings suggest that these ubiquitous environmental chemicals have the potential to alter androgen‐responsive brain development in humans.
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Studies from Sweden suggest that DINP contributes to sex-specific differences in play behavior, being associated with reduced masculine play behavior in boys.
“and studies from Sweden suggest that DINP contributes to sex-specific differences in play behavior, being associated with reduced masculine play behavior in boys (Özel et al., 2023; Swan et al., 2010).”
From Environmental endocrine disruptors at the synapse: mechanisms linking chemical exposure to cognitive and behavioral dysfunction (2026) · cites this paper as Swan et al., 2010
The Results and Discussion associate prenatal exposure to DEHP and DBP metabolites with less masculine play in boys, supporting the general play-behavior finding. They do not identify DINP as the associated phthalate. The Study population section describes recruitment at U.S. clinics, not a Swedish study. Page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.91)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredPrenatal phthalate exposure has been linked to ADHD-like symptoms.
“Prenatal phthalate exposure has been linked to ADHD-like symptoms, and studies from Sweden suggest that DINP contributes to sex-specific differences in play behavior, being associated with reduced masculine play behavior in boys (Özel et al., 2023; Swan et al., 2010).”
From Environmental endocrine disruptors at the synapse: mechanisms linking chemical exposure to cognitive and behavioral dysfunction (2026) · cites this paper as Swan et al., 2010
The Abstract and Results (no page numbers supplied) link prenatal exposure to DEHP and DBP metabolites with less masculine play behavior in boys. The paper does not report ADHD-like symptoms or identify DINP or a Swedish study as the basis for that finding. (LLM, conf=0.86)
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- Authors
- Swan, S. H., Liu, F., Hines, M., Kruse, R. L., Wang, C., Redmon, J. B., Sparks, A., & Weiss, B.
- Affiliations
- University of Rochester Medicine (US)
- University of Cambridge (GB)
- University of Missouri (US)
- The Lundquist Institute (US)
- University of Minnesota (US)
- University of Iowa (US)
- Corresponding author
- Swan, S. H.
- Venue
- International Journal of Andrology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2010-03-14
- Volume
- 33
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 259-269
- ISSN
- 0105-6263 (ISSN-L)
- 1365-2605
- PMC
- PMC2874619
- OpenAlex
- W2058833376
- Cited by
- 257
- References
- 34
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 20 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 29 · 2014: 35 · 2013: 21 · 2012: 22
- FWCI
- 12.78
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- International Journal of Andrology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- University of Minnesota
- National Institutes of Health
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (ES-01247, R01 ES09916, R01ES009916, R21ES015509, P30ES001247)
- National Center for Research Resources (MO1-RR-0425, M01RR000400, MO 1 RR00400, M01RR000425)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Effects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicals
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Sexual Differentiation and Disorders
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Pesticide Exposure and Toxicity
- Keywords
- phthalates, prenatal exposure, androgen receptor antagonists, urinary phthalate metabolites, DEHP metabolites, mono-n-butyl phthalate, mono-isobutyl phthalate, brain development, boys, environmental endocrine disruptors
- MeSH terms
- Child, Preschool, Dibutyl Phthalate, Diethylhexyl Phthalate, Environmental Exposure, Female, Gender Identity, Humans, Infant, Male, Phthalic Acids, Play and Playthings, Pregnancy, Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects, Sex Differentiation, Maternal Exposure
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