CEEH Affiliate Dr. Sheela Sathyanarayana (Member, Susceptible Subpopulations ARE) studies hypospadias and cryptorchidism, known risk factors for the development of testicular cancer in humans. Rates of these conditions are rising in industrialized countries, and it is believed that an interplay of genetics and the environment is to blame. Phthalates are synthetic chemicals that are ubiquitous in our environment. In animal studies, phthalate exposure during pregnancy leads to significant developmental toxicity in offspring, including testicular tumors later in life. A long-term goal of Dr. Sathyanarayana’s research is to determine whether the increased risk of altered genital development associated with exposure to phthalates during pregancy is modified by genetic factors related to the regulation of male genital development.