Do plastic-based baby toys release endocrine-disrupting chemicals when chewed by teething infants?

What's actually in it

Plastic toys are rarely just plastic. They are often made with a mix of chemicals that give them their shape, color, and flexibility. Many of these include hormone-disrupting chemicals: substances that mimic or block your body's natural hormones.

When an infant chews on a plastic toy, these chemicals can leach out. Because infants are still developing, their bodies are uniquely sensitive to these disruptions. These chemicals are not inert. They interact with biological systems in ways that can have lasting effects on growth and reproductive health.

What the research says

The science is clear that exposure to these chemical mixtures poses real risks. A 2026 study in Environ Sci Technol found that prenatal exposure to these chemical mixtures affects placental function and fetal growth.

The impact continues into adulthood. A 2026 study in Environ Pollut linked these multicategory hormone-disrupting chemicals to a higher risk of polycystic ovary syndrome. Furthermore, a 2026 study in Reprod Biomed Online highlighted how exposure to these chemicals during critical developmental windows can alter male reproductive hormones later in life.

Additional peer-reviewed research confirms these findings. A 2026 study in Andrology observed that fetal exposure to these chemical mixtures is associated with changes in biomarkers of male fecundity. When these chemicals are present in the body, such as in follicular fluid, they can even impact outcomes for assisted reproductive technology, according to a 2026 study in Reprod Biomed Online.