Previous research on animals has suggested phthalates may damage reproductive development by disrupting hormone levels.

BBC: NEWS | Health | Chemicals may damage male babies

It is the first piece of evidence that we have that phthalates may cause adverse effects on reproductive development in human foetuses.

BBC: NEWS | Health | Chemicals may damage male babies

Suspected human carcinogen, interferes with normal reproductive system development and thyroid hormone levels.

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They must find the political will to make reproductive health fundamental to implementing sustainable development as a major outcome at Rio.

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Phthalates have been shown to affect the development of the male reproductive system in lab animals, and a few small studies suggest they may be linked to subtle effects in the reproductive organs of infant boys.

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Other questions were from Viscount Craigavon, a crossbench peer, who asked the government what priority it is giving in international development to population issues and reproductive health and rights.

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Beta carotene is a type of carotenoid, a plant pigment that is a provitamin for vitamin A. During its digestion and metabolism, a percentage is converted to vitamin A, a fat-soluble vitamin that is important for vision, growth and development, and healthy immune and reproductive function.

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Exposure to phthalates during development can also cause malformations of the male reproductive tract and testicular cancer.

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Additionally, The UN Foundation is currently leading a large-scale, multi-stakeholder advocacy effort which seeks to strengthen the leadership role of the United States in advancing progress toward the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and Millennium Development Goal (MDG) targets of universal access to reproductive health by 2015.

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