I recently purchased, online, an Omnigrid mat. It stated right on the site I purchased it from that
" WARNING: Contains Phthalates: known to the State of California to cause birth defects and other reproductive harm. Imported."
I bought it anyways, I figured the others are probably the same, this company just says so, because CA requires it, I suppose.
From reading this, my hunch is right.
Just got it yesterday, it does stink, hopefully that will disappear.
I did a little research on Phthalates and it looks like a lot of the toys I had as a kid, plastic in cars and many other things contain it. I wouldn't doubt the thing mentioned in the original post had it too. It said something about reproductive affects and endocrine affects. For me, personally, I cannot worry about this kind of stuff because I will go crazy (seriously)