Phthalates in Pregnancy Are Tied to Teen Behavior

The plastic containers in your kitchen right now contain phthalates. And a 2026 study in Science of the Total Environment found that phthalate exposure during pregnancy is linked to problem behaviors and worse social skills in teen boys.

What the Study Found

Researchers tracked 216 mother-child pairs from Cincinnati, Ohio. They measured phthalate metabolites in maternal urine at 16 and 26 weeks of pregnancy, then followed up when kids were 12. Mono-isobutyl phthalate (MiBP) was significantly linked to higher problem behavior scores in boys (β: 5.94, 95% CI: 0.75 to 11.12, p = 0.03). The effect was specific to males. Girls were not affected the same way.

The mixture of phthalates showed consistent detrimental associations with both social skills and problem behaviors in adolescent boys. These effects extended previous child behavior research into the teenage years.

Where Phthalates Come From

Phthalates are used to make plastic flexible. They show up in food containers, plastic wrap, vinyl flooring, and personal care products. They don't bond to the plastic chemically, so they migrate out into food, especially when heated. Pregnant women who regularly eat food stored or heated in plastic carry measurable phthalate levels in their urine.

The most direct swap: stop storing and heating food in plastic. Glass containers don't leach phthalates. Stainless steel doesn't either. Browse non-toxic baby products and non-toxic kitchen alternatives if you're ready to make the switch.

Source: Fitts W, Puvvula J, Braun JM, Lanphear BP, Calafat AM (2026). Sci Total Environ.