A study carried out by the Environment Ministry found a substance believed to be an endocrine disrupter in the umbilical cord of a newborn baby, the ministry said Wednesday.

The study's findings, reported by the ministry's investigative commission on endocrine disrupters, showed that dicyclohexyl phthalate, or DCHP, was detected in the umbilical cord of one of five infants studied.

The ministry said DCHP, which is used in some kinds of acrylic paint, cellophane, toys and plastic gloves, has previously been detected in indoor air, but has never been detected in humans -- until now.