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"The delays in pregnancy we saw were comparable to those seen for cigarette smoking or with obesity," Dr. Buck Louis said.

Dr. Buck Louis added that the findings demonstrate that it's important to study both partners when assessing the effects of environmental substances on pregnancy outcomes. If the researchers had only studied the female partners, she added, they would have missed the association between these three phthalates and a delay in the time the couples took to achieve pregnancy.

"Clearly, in studies of this kind, males matter," she said.

According to the CDC, monomethyl pthalate External Web Site Policy is excreted in the urine of people exposed to dimethyl phthalate, which is used in manufacturing rocket propellant and consumer products such as insect repellents and plastics. Mono-n-butyl phthalate External Web Site Policy, excreted in the urine of people exposed to the dibutyl phthalates, is used as additives to personal care products such as nail products and cosmetics, and in printing inks, pharmaceutical coatings, and insecticides. Mono-n-benzyl phthalate External Web Site Policy, excreted in the urine of people exposed to benzylbutyl phthalate, is used in products such as adhesives, vinyl tile, sealants, car care products, and some personal care products. People exposed to benzylbutyl phthalate also excrete small amounts of mono-n-butyl phthalate External Web Site Policy in their urine.

The study authors noted that earlier studies had found that men with high concentrations of monomethyl phthalate had abnormalities in their semen and that men with high concentrations of mono-n-butyl phthalate had diminished sperm motility and reduced sperm count.

About the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD): The NICHD sponsors research on development, before and after birth; maternal, child, and family health; reproductive biology and population issues; and medical rehabilitation. For more information, visit the Institute's website at http://www.nichd.nih.gov.