Common plastic chemical linked to lifelong anxiety in new study
Key takeaways
- Although the study was conducted in rodents, the findings suggest that exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals before and shortly after birth could potentially cause long lasting behavioral changes in humans as well.
- Common Plastic Chemical Under Investigation
- The chemical examined in the study was di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a plasticizer commonly added to products to make them more flexible.
Why this matters: new research or scientific developments with potential real-world impact.
Male rats exposed to a widely used plastic chemical during early development showed higher levels of anxiety as adults, according to research presented at ENDO 2026, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in Chicago, Illinois.
Although the study was conducted in rodents, the findings suggest that exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals before and shortly after birth could potentially cause long lasting behavioral changes in humans as well.
"This research demonstrates that one of the most widely used plasticizers worldwide is capable of causing behavioral changes when the subject is exposed during the prenatal and immediate postnatal developmental stages, with this effect lasting over time," said Osvaldo Juan Ponzo, M.D., Ph.D., professor of physiology at University of Buenos Aires School of Medicine in Buenos Aires, Argentina.