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Early childhood exposure to specific phthalates, commonly found in plastic toys, are associated with depressed thyroid function in girls at age three.

Phthalates, a class of chemicals thought to disrupt the endocrine system, are widely used in consumer products from plastic toys and household building materials to shampoo.

Thyroid affects brain development
“The thyroid acts as the master controller of brain development,” says senior author Pam Factor-Litvak, professor of Epidemiology at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health scientists.
“Thyroid hormones set the schedule, and if the timing is out of sync, there may be later consequences in the brain. The thyroid disruptions we see in this study, although they fall within the normal range, could explain some of the cognitive problems we see in children exposed to phthalates and we are currently investigating that. As we know from lead, even small exposures can make a big difference.”

Previous studies have found links between prenatal exposure to phthalates and risk for lower IQ at age seven, childhood asthma, and mental and motor development problems in preschool children.