Taiwanese cohort study examines prenatal phthalate exposure effects on infant birth weight and gestational age; reports higher impact on male neonates
Studies investigate impacts of EDC exposure during pregnancy
Five studies examine effects following exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) during pregnancy; report association between bisphenol A (BPA) exposure and preterm birth and decreased gestational age, especially upon exposure in third trimester of pregnancy; find contradicting results on fetal growth impacts from BPA; intake of synthetic progesterone by pregnant women found to double cancer risk of their offspring; propylparaben exposure found to alter mammary gland structure in mice
Phthalates linked to language delays
Prenatal exposure to phthalates linked to language development delays in children, according to prospective epidemiological study of mother and child cohorts in Sweden and U.S.
Health effects of perchlorate exposure
Review of perchlorate’s human health effects finds ‘mixed results’ regarding neurodevelopment; Austrian assessment of dietary perchlorate exposure finds exceedance of tolerable daily intake levels for high consumption; recent studies address effects in newborns, other effects
OECD guideline on development toxicity updated
OECD adds endpoints to prenatal development toxicity testing guideline to better detect effects of endocrine disruptors
Chemical exposures during pregnancy
Washington Post discusses exposure to environmental chemicals during pregnancy, risks posed to unborn children
Phthalates reduce neuron numbers in developing brain
Rats perinatally exposed to phthalates show lower number of neurons and synapses in the brain, decreased cognitive flexibility
Special issue on EDCs and behavior
Special issue of peer-reviewed journal Hormones and Behavior focuses on endocrine disrupting chemicals’ effects on behavior; articles address molecular mechanisms, animal studies and epidemiological observations, discuss specific chemicals including BPA, triclosan, PBDEs, PFASs
EDCs impact neurodevelopment across generations
Scientists obtain epidemiological evidence demonstrating adverse effects of EDC exposure on neurodevelopment in humans across several generations
Prenatal PFAS exposure and smaller babies
Pooled analysis of several European birth cohorts finds association of prenatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances with babies being born ‘small for gestational age’