phthalate

^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]

Uses

esters of phthalic acid are used as plasticizers to increase flexibility, transparency, & durability
used primarily to soften polyvinyl chloride

higher exposure to phthalates during pregnancy is associated with increased risk for preterm delivery^[2]
positive association between phthalate metabolites in urine & symptoms of ADHD among school-age children^[3]

↑ Wikipedia: Phthalate http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalate
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 Ferguson KK et al Environmental Phthalate Exposure and Preterm Birth. JAMA Pediatr. Published online November 18, 2013 <PubMed> PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24247736 <Internet> http://archpedi.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1769137
Swan SH Environmental Phthalate Exposure and the Odds of Preterm Birth. An Important Contribution to Environmental Reproductive Epidemiology. JAMA Pediatr. Published online November 18, 2013 <PubMed> PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24247638 <Internet> http://archpedi.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1769135
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 Kim B-N et al. Phthalates exposure and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in school-age children. Biol Psychiatry 2009 Nov 15; 66:958 PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19748073
↑ National Library of Medicine Phthalates http://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/text_version/chemicals.php?id=24