News

A study which claims that chemicals used to soften plastics may feminise baby boys has been denounced by UK plastics experts as "scaremongering", "simplistic" and "selective".

The US-led research by the University of Rochester, published in the International Journal of Andrology, found that males subjected to high doses of phthalates – which are used in some packaging, plastic furniture, vinyl flooring and PVC shower curtains – were less likely to participate in rough-and-tumble games or play with cars.

Two types of phthalates were found to be of "most concern" – DEHP and DBP. The journal links their use to consumer products including food packaging.

"These phthalates are used primarily in polyvinyl chloride (PVC)," the article read. It went on to suggest that "any steps in the processing, packaging, storage, or heating of food that use PVC-containing products" could introduce them to the food chain.

Yet, advisor to the Packaging and Films Association (PAFA) Peter Woodall contests the article's claims.

"There are no phthalates in UK food packaging," he said. "This is another case of persistent scaremongering without any robust scientific foundation."

The American research has caused a flurry of media coverage, most notably in the Daily Mail, which called it "disturbing".

The British Plastics Federation (BPF) responded to the article with scepticism and "urged great caution when assessing the results".

In a letter to the paper, BPF director general Peter Davis said: "This study uses a relatively small sample size and simplistic approach, producing conclusions which fly in the face of the body of scientific evidence.

"Phthalates are some of the most widely studied chemicals in the world and rigorous EU risk assessments and studies by other internationally respected scientific bodies have consistently proved the safety of phthalates for their current uses."

This latest study, which was led by Dr Shanna Swan, concluded that phthalates could also affect mental development in boys by countering the action of testosterone.

Swan and her team of researchers tested pregnant women for traces of phthalates. The women subsequently gave birth to 74 boys and 71 girls. The parents were then quizzed when their children were aged between four and seven.

The findings revealed that while girls exposed to phthalates were unaffected, boys who were exposed to high levels were less likely to play with toys such as cars and trains than other boys.

Swan admitted that while the boys who were studied were young, that their reaction to phthalates exposure could still lead to further feminisation at a later stage.

The BPF's Davis added that "in response to Dr Swan's study, the American Chemistry Council has stated that 'the researchers have selectively excluded data, eliminating certain subjects from the analysis, in order to strengthen their conclusion'."

Click here for today's headlines from across the industry