Common Chemical May Cause Defects in Baby Boys: Pregnant Moms’ Exposure is Key.

For the first time, scientists have shown that pregnant mothers exposed to high but common levels of a widely used ingredient in cosmetics, fragrances, plastics, and paints can have baby boys with smaller genitals and incomplete testicular descent. The more a mother was exposed to the chemical called phthalates (THALates), the greater the chance her boy’s reproductive development would be harmed.