Prenatal phthalate exposure associated with shorter anogenital distance in male infants, indicating anti-androgenic effects

This prospective cohort study examined the relationship between prenatal phthalate exposure (measured in maternal urine) and anogenital distance (AGD) in male infants. Among 85 male infants, higher concentrations of four phthalate metabolites were associated with significantly shorter AGD — a marker of incomplete masculinization in animal studies. This was the first human study to demonstrate the anti-androgenic effects of phthalates observed in rodent models, and it became a cornerstone reference for phthalate regulation in cosmetics and personal care products.

U.S. EPA, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences