Research suggests that oral exposure to a certain phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, may worsen a thyroid condition, chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, in female Wistar rats through oxidative stress. Another phthalate, diisononyl phthalate, has been linked to cognitive deficits and anxiety in mice. The effects of phthalates on health appear to be a subject of ongoing study, with some research also exploring potential protective effects of certain substances.