Study finds sex-specific impacts of prenatal phthalate exposure

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’