Chemicals During Pregnancy Might Affect Girls' Behavior
Prenatal exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals and the association with behavioural difficulties in 7-year-old children in the SELMA study
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Only girls showed a strong, consistent link between prenatal EDC exposure and behavioral issues.
Many assume toxins affect boys and girls similarly, or that boys are more vulnerable due to developmental delays. This study flips that script, suggesting female neurodevelopment may be uniquely sensitive to certain EDCs.
Practical Takeaways
Pregnant women can reduce exposure by avoiding plastic food containers, scented personal care products, and non-stick cookware.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Only girls showed a strong, consistent link between prenatal EDC exposure and behavioral issues.
Many assume toxins affect boys and girls similarly, or that boys are more vulnerable due to developmental delays. This study flips that script, suggesting female neurodevelopment may be uniquely sensitive to certain EDCs.
Practical Takeaways
Pregnant women can reduce exposure by avoiding plastic food containers, scented personal care products, and non-stick cookware.
Publication
Journal
Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology
Year
2024
Authors
M. Stratmann, Fatih Özel, M. Marinopoulou, Christian H. Lindh, H. Kiviranta, C. Gennings, C. Bornehag
Related Content
Claims (4)
If a girl is exposed to certain chemicals while in her mom’s womb, she might be more likely to have behavior issues by age 7. This doesn’t seem to happen the same way in boys.
Some chemicals found in plastics and personal care products, when exposed to during pregnancy, are linked to behavior problems in girls by age 7, and a few of them seem to play a bigger role in that link.
Kids who are exposed to certain harmful chemicals in the environment might have a harder time controlling their impulses or stopping themselves from doing something they shouldn't.
Kids whose moms were exposed to more hormone-disrupting chemicals during pregnancy tend to have slightly more behavioral difficulties, especially boys. The effect is small but shows up more clearly in boys than in girls.