Association Between Prenatal Phthalate Exposure Trajectories and the Risk of Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Preschool-Aged Children
Phthalates (PAEs) are a typical class of emerging persistent organic pollutants widely found in plastics, cosmetics, food packaging, and daily necessities. Because they do not form chemical bonds with polymers, PAEs are easily released into the environment and enter the human body through diet, air, or skin contact. As a vulnerable population, pregnant women may experience significant impacts on fetal development due to accumulated PAEs in their bodies.
Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) in children-including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and emotional and behavioral problems (EBPs)-have become a major component of the global disease burden. Previous epidemiological studies have suggested that prenatal phthalate exposure may increase the risk of cognitive decline and behavioral abnormalities in children. However, most studies were based on single or average exposure levels, failing to capture dynamic changes across different stages of pregnancy. Given the critical windows of neurodevelopment, single measurements may underestimate the true risk.
To address this, this study utilized a large prospective birth cohort to construct phthalate exposure trajectories based on three urinary samples collected during pregnancy. By integrating neurodevelopmental outcomes in preschool-aged children and umbilical cord blood metabolomics, the study systematically evaluated the impact of prenatal exposure on the risk of NDDs and its potential mechanisms.