Mixtures of chemicals in pregnancy and their effects on cognitive and fine motor abilities in childhood
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: This study evaluates effects of a mixture of 29 chemicals in pregnancy (organochlorine compounds, per - and polyfluoroalkyl substances, phenols, and phthalates) on cognitive abilities (working memory, attentional function, visuomotor attention, cognitive flexibility, verbal and non-verbal intelligence, information processing speed, risky decision making) and fine motor function in childhood. Data from over 2000 mothers and their children that take part in the INfancia y Medio Ambiente in Spain were analyzed. Quantile-based g-computation estimated joint effects of chemical mixtures on the outcomes, adjusting for confounders and using inverse probability weights to mitigate selection bias. The overall mixture of chemicals was linked to lower visuomotor attention (i.e., slower response time, +0.2 min, 95 % CI 0.0 to 0.4 for the second; +0.4 min, 95 % CI 0.0 to 0.8 for the third; and +0.7 min, 95 % CI 0.0 to 1.3 for the fourth quartile, relative to the first quartile). Counterintuitively, the overall mixture of chemicals was related to higher verbal intelligence (+1.5 points, 95 % CI 0.1 to 3.0 for the second; +3.0 points, 95 % CI 0.1 to 6.0 for the third; and +4.6 points, 95 % CI 0.2 to 9.0 for the fourth quartile, relative to the first quartile). However, neither of these associations survived multiple testing correction. Our study does not provide strong evidence that prenatal exposure to a mixture of organochlorine compounds, per - and polyfluoroalkyl substances, phenols, and phthalates affects cognitive abilities or fine motor function in childhood.
Source: Environmental Research
Institutions: Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Charles University, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Fundación para el Fomento de la Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de la Comunitat Valenciana, University of the Basque Country, Biogipuzkoa Health Research Institute, Universitat de Barcelona, Erasmus MC
Language: English
Subfield: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,880
Funders: Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Fundación Alicia Koplowitz, Fundació la Marató de TV3, European Commission, Generalitat de Catalunya, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Generalitat Valenciana, Agence Nationale de Sécurité Sanitaire de l’Alimentation, de l’Environnement et du Travail, Horizon 2020 Framework Programme, Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Comissió Interdepartamental de Recerca i Innovació Tecnològica, European Regional Development Fund, H2020 Fast Track to Innovation, H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, Ministerio de Universidades
Awards: G1007040152, G1035025759, G1524509964, G1773966049, G1861521719, G1916465975, G2260695970, G2403414962, G2518660252, G2675931491, G2773707936, G292513445, G2971876348, G3051343695, G3333054024, G359490773, G3779966032, G3863350260, G4030697981, G4442566642, G4709575801, Understanding how endocrine disruptors and chemical mixtures of concern target the immune system to trigger or perpetuate disease, G5088979681, G5114009594, G5140512480, G5185833053, G5309516797, G5352756956, G5360591901, G5410659973, G5638064393, G5642166658, G5706434571, G5709682634, G582682078, Developmental neurotoxicity assessment of mixtures in children, G6459147697, G6470851821, G6698435785, G6814556330, G7301208428, Mechanisms of the Development of ALLergy, G73640366, G740284655, G7426531139, G76003331, Towards the elimination of iodine deficiency and preventable thyroid-related diseases in Europe, G7903469076, G8012477847, Generalised EMF Research using Novel Methods – an integrated approach: from research to risk assessment and support to risk management, G8291568459, G8361954700, G8392916021, G8563013907, G8757203113, G8910405453, G9000232620, G904589728, G929055435, G956958452
OpenAlex ID: W4412594995