Male rats that were exposed to the widely used plasticizer di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) during early development exhibited increased anxiety behavior as adults, according to a study being presented Saturday at ENDO 2026, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in Chicago, Ill.

Phthalate Exposure in Early Life May Lead to Anxiety in Adult Male Rats
Endocrine Society
