Do phthalates in home products affect pregnancy?

What's actually in it

Phthalates are chemicals found in a wide range of home products, from scented air fresheners and cleaning sprays to vinyl flooring and plastic storage containers. They are used to make plastics flexible and to help fragrances last longer. You cannot see or smell them separately, but they are in the air you breathe and on the surfaces you touch every day.

During pregnancy, your body absorbs these chemicals more readily. Phthalates are known endocrine disruptors, meaning they interfere with the hormones that regulate your pregnancy and your baby's development.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Ecohealth found a direct link between phthalate exposure and altered reproductive hormones in pregnant women. The study measured phthalate levels in pregnant women and found that higher exposure was associated with significant changes in the hormones that support a healthy pregnancy.

Phthalates are not the only concern. A 2026 study in Environ Res found associations between emerging endocrine-disrupting chemicals and disrupted thyroid hormone levels in pregnant women. The thyroid is critical for fetal brain development, and even small disruptions during pregnancy can have lasting effects on your child.

The risk increases when you are exposed to multiple chemicals at once. A 2026 study in Int J Hyg Environ Health examined how exposure to a mixture of endocrine-disrupting chemicals affects thyroid function in pregnant women. The study confirmed that combined chemical exposure from everyday products has a measurable effect on thyroid health during pregnancy.