These Ubiquitous Chemicals May Be Making Us Stupid

—By Tom Philpott | Tue Dec. 16, 2014 6:00 AM EST

You may not think much about the class of industrial chemicals called phthalates, which are used both to make plastics more flexible and to dissolve other chemicals. But you're quite likely on intimate terms with them. According to the Centers for Disease Control, they're found in "vinyl flooring, adhesives, detergents, lubricating oils, automotive plastics, plastic clothes (raincoats), and personal-care products (soaps, shampoos, hair sprays, and nail polishes)."

Because of their ubiquity, researchers routinely find phthalate traces in people's urine, CDC reports. Does it matter? "Human health effects from exposure to low levels of phthalates are unknown," the agency claims. But a growing body of research—summarized here and covered on Mother Jones here, here, here, and here—suggests they're causing us subtle but significant harm.