Chemicals called phthalates and bisphenol-A (BPA) that are found in solvents, plastics and numerous household products may alter levels of thyroid hormones in the body, according to a new study.
Thyroid hormones play a role in many critical bodily functions, including reproduction and metabolism.
The strongest link occurred with exposure to DEHP, a phthalate commonly used as a plasticizer, which 
In the cases of DEHP ingestion, urine samples showed that the greatest exposure was associated with as much as a 10 percent drop in thyroid hormones.
Developing fetuses and children may be particularly vulnerable to disruptions in thyroid hormone levels associated with exposure to these and other environmental chemicals, the researchers say.
