Recently, a consortium of 140 environmental groups studied the issue, and presented a report on the subject. It appears that the potentially dangerous chemicals are found in dozens of everyday items, from erasers and shoes to pencil cases and toothbrushes.
The study focused on a group of chemicals known as phthalates. Since 1999, six types of phthalates have been banned in the manufacture of European toys as they have been linked to reproductive disorders in children.
Phthalates are commonly used to make plastic more flexible, appearing in vinyl flooring, shower curtains, dashboards and steering wheels—scientists believe the six million tonnes produced each year leach out of the pipes and plastics used in food processing into our bodies .
Based on experiments and the effect of chemical accidents involving phthalates, scientists believe that these chemicals are responsible for a massive drop in male fertility over the past few decades.