Knight Science Journalism Tracker » USA Today: Should we all worry over estrogen-mimicking pthalates, bisphenol A, etc? (A: looks like it)

This article summary of a USA Today article suggests that the tide of scientific opinion on pthalates is turning towards concern about their effects.  Long time readers of this blog will remember last February when there was an attempt to blame gynecomastia (enlarged breasts) on lavender and tea tree oil. At the time many of us wondered if perhaps some other ingredients of the materials or packaging might have caused the effects noted. I did a literature search on pthalates but could only conclude that there were lots of opinions on both sides of the issue. Eventually the gynecomastia question will need to be revisited to reach valid conclusions about whether essential oils or other factors were actually the causative.