This recent study was co-authored by Dr. Aimin Chen, Co-Director of PRCCEH and Professor of Epidemiology in the Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. Researchers analysed maternal urine samples from parent-offspring pairs recruited between 2003 and 2006, which were collected at 16 and 26 weeks gestation, to assess for nine phthalate metabolites. At the 12-year follow up, children and their caregivers completed the Social Skills Improvement System, which measures social skills and problem behaviors. Then, multivariable linear regressions were performed for each phthalate metabolite. The study found evidence for specific associations between gestational phthalate exposures and social skills and problem behaviors in research, suggesting the sex specific effects of phthalates.