Urinary phthalate metabolites are associated with decreased serum testosterone in men, women, and children from NHANES 2011–2012
There is evidence of declining trends in T levels among men in recent decades, as well as trends in related conditions at multiple life stages and in both sexes. There is also animal and limited human evidence that exposure to phthalates, chemicals found in plastics and personal care products, is associated with reduced androgen levels and associated disorders. The objective of the research was to explore relationships between urinary concentrations of 13 phthalate metabolites and serum total T levels among men, women, and children when adjusting for important confounders and stratifying by sex and age (6–12, 12–20, 20–40, 40–60, and 60–80 y).