General Chat

Plastic chemicals could be 'feminising' the brains of baby boys
by Emma Cossey Nov 16th 2009

Categories: Latest news

A new study has suggested that plastic chemicals could be 'feminising' the brains of baby boys.

The research took place on a group of pregnant women, with those who were found to have a higher concentration of two phthalates in their urine producing sons who are less likely to play with male toys such as trucks and toy guns.

The study took place on 145 pre-school children, led by the University of Rochester Medical centre.

Phthalates are chemicals used to soften plastics, and are most often found in food products.
The study linked two particular types, DEHP and DBP, to the change in the behaviour of the boys. There was no significant changes in the behaviour of the girls.

Worryingly for future generations, the early results suggest it may also affect the development of genitals in males. At the moment, these results are only confirmed in male rats and are still being checked for human boys.

The findings further back up the theory that hormones have a large influence on the behaviour of children.

Does your son like playing with stereotypical boys toys? What do you think about the findings? I don't think the makers of GI Joe and Lego will be quaking in their boots quite yet.

My grandson loves cuddling baby dolls and plays with Sindys.
I have no problem with that - he's not two yet!

No, surely not..............*hangs handbag over shoulder & minces off thread* pmsl

:o)))

Hi mate..........yep every night & I can flounce like Hayley. pmsl

:o)))

Interesting... Son was never keen on toy cars etc, but is typically into 'boys toys' now, so don't think not playing with them as a kid signifies much .

I always liked to play with boys toys as well as girls lol,
when I worked in toy shops I was always being asked ,do you think it's ok that my son wants a toy hoover, tea set etc. No one ever said do you think it's ok for my daughter to want a train set or meccano ...

xx

LOL its when the girls want to play with "Toyboys" that is the problem , methinks.

Bob

There seemed to be a few girls that " got into" the "Boys toys" on James Mays' programs, building the Spitfire, and the Meccano Bridge......

Bob, you 'sussed' me lol.

flippin eck,

just dont give um plastic dolls then,
lol

omgoodness, all the toy hoovers are plastic, even real ones,
never mind you need a big strong boy to push the hoover round,
and lift all the washing,

and the heavy pots and pans,

my boy alway had his sisters toys laying round, and if he wanted he could play with um,
he has played with boys toys though too, cars tractors, fireengines, farm yard his grandad made him turned into firestation as he got bit older,
then into footy
now hes still footy mad, and is not feminin (thats quiet hard to spell actualy)

sometimes he talks like he was born in the 40s in the north (hope thats not racist or agist

Julie Ann, my older brother didn't play with my dolls....but he did read my comics lol

xx

lol rose

i dont think they grow out of that do they

my hubby always reads the magazine daughter gets, when she leaves um here,
he confessed to reading jackie when he was younger too,
lol

My OH has worked in plastics almost all his working life, and there is nothing feminine about him. He has ' blown' polythene for years, even chewed it, in the raw state, to taste for it's contents.
Julia in Derbyshire

I read about these things being found in food containers and such a while back. It's a bit like all the chemicals from waste water going back into the rivers, the ones from the contraceptive pill causing problems with fish!

My lad wasn't given guns when small but would make the shape from Lego, also he went to a garage sale up the road when he was three, and chose to buy a doll in a buggy! (He is very good with children, I have to say lol) I never minded what toys he played with, bought him a secondhand tool set from Fisher Price and also a secondhand doctor's set, as well as a toy kitchen and dustpan and brush etc, that didn't make him any better at cleaning up lol

Lizx