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Toxics
Special Issues
Prenatal Chemical Exposure and Child Health Outcomes
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Prenatal Chemical Exposure and Child Health Outcomes

A special issue of Toxics (ISSN 2305-6304). This special issue belongs to the section "Reproductive and Developmental Toxicity".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 2359

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Maria José Rosa

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Environmental Medicine and Climate Science, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
Interests: asthma; wheeze; respiratory health; child health; air pollution; particulate matter; metals; stress; prenatal exposure
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Cecilia Alcala

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Environmental Medicine and Climate Science, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
Interests: prenatal exposure; asthma; wheeze; respiratory health; chemical exposures; atopic disease; child health; enviromental justice; environmental literacy
Dr. Jamil Lane

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Environmental Medicine and Climate Science, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
Interests: prenatal exposure; neurodevelopment; neurotoxicology; executive function; trace elements; metal mixtures, child development; childhood obesity; latent variable modeling

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

According to the developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) hypothesis, events experienced during critical periods of development, starting in utero, can impact health in ways that are not apparent until much later in life. Even relatively low-dose chemical exposures during the prenatal period can alter the maturation of organ systems and impact developmental trajectories that produce effects expressed across childhood. Exposure to chemicals during the prenatal period may lead to adverse birth outcomes, respiratory diseases, neurodevelopmental delays, metabolic dysfunctions, and other diseases. For this Special Issue, “Prenatal Chemical Exposure and Child Health Outcomes,” we would like to invite you to submit your novel research on the following topics:

  • Novel analyses of environmental chemical mixtures and their health effects on children.
  • Novel research addressing mechanisms underlying prenatal exposure’s adverse health effects.
  • Intervention or mitigation studies.
  • Syntheses of current knowledge and meta-analyses of existing data.

Dr. Maria José Rosa
Dr. Cecilia Alcala
Dr. Jamil Lane
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Toxics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • chemical exposure
  • children’s health
  • birth outcomes
  • environmental mixtures
  • prenatal exposure

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 1203 KiB  
Article
Association of Maternal PM2.5 Exposure with Preterm Birth and Low Birth Weight: A Large-Scale Cohort Study in Northern Thailand (2016–2022)
by Pak Thaichana, Patumrat Sripan, Amaraporn Rerkasem, Theera Tongsong, Suraphan Sangsawang, Sawaeng Kawichai, Worawut Srisukkham, Chanane Wanapirak, Sirinart Sirilert, Natnita Mattawanon, Chotiros Phanpong, Krongporn Ongprasert, José G. B. Derraik and Kittipan Rerkasem
Toxics 2025, 13(4), 304; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13040304 - 13 Apr 2025
Viewed by 489
Abstract
Air pollution exposure has been increasingly linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the effects of PM2.5 exposure throughout pregnancy on preterm birth, low birth weight (LBW), and small for gestational age (SGA). We analyzed a cohort of 16,965 [...] Read more.
Air pollution exposure has been increasingly linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the effects of PM2.5 exposure throughout pregnancy on preterm birth, low birth weight (LBW), and small for gestational age (SGA). We analyzed a cohort of 16,965 pregnant women living in northern Thailand between 2016 and 2022. PM2.5 concentration data were collected from two air quality monitoring stations operated by the Pollution Control Department (PCD) of Thailand. Logistic regression models were used to assess the association between daily PM2.5 exposure and pregnancy outcomes. PM2.5 exposure at levels exceeding 37.5 μg/m3 throughout pregnancy significantly increased the risk of preterm birth (aOR = 2.19, p < 0.001) and LBW (aOR = 1.99, p < 0.001) compared to the reference group (15.1–37.5 μg/m3). However, exposure at levels ≤15.0 μg/m3 also increased the risk for both outcomes compared to the same reference group. Subgroup analysis of high-risk pregnant women, including women aged > 35 years, with pre-pregnancy BMI (<18.5), pregnancy-induced hypertension, and nulliparous women, showed that the range of the critical PM2.5 exposure threshold was 32.3–38.4 μg/m3 for preterm birth and 31.2–38.2 μg/m3 for LBW. This study highlights the significant association between PM2.5 exposure and adverse pregnancy outcomes and suggests the need for targeted interventions to mitigate its effects on maternal and child health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prenatal Chemical Exposure and Child Health Outcomes)
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14 pages, 292 KiB  
Article
Arsenic Exposure During Pregnancy and Childhood: Factors Explaining Changes over a Decade
by Paola Rubilar, Macarena Hirmas-Adauy, Mauricio Apablaza, Camila Awad, Xaviera Molina, María Pía Muñoz, Iris Delgado, Nicolás C. Zanetta-Colombo, Carla Castillo-Laborde, María Isabel Matute, Mauricio A. Retamal, Andrea Olea, Paulina Pino, Claudia González, Cristóbal Carvajal and Verónica Iglesias
Toxics 2025, 13(3), 215; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13030215 - 16 Mar 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 753
Abstract
Arsenic chronic exposure, particularly in its inorganic form, represents a significant public health concern. This study was conducted in Arica, the northernmost city in the country, whose inhabitants have been exposed to inorganic arsenic both naturally through drinking water and anthropogenically due to [...] Read more.
Arsenic chronic exposure, particularly in its inorganic form, represents a significant public health concern. This study was conducted in Arica, the northernmost city in the country, whose inhabitants have been exposed to inorganic arsenic both naturally through drinking water and anthropogenically due to a toxic waste disposal site. We explored changes in inorganic arsenic levels in a cohort of pregnant women and their children over a decade, identifying exposure trends and their determinants. We used data on arsenic exposure through maternal urine samples during pregnancy, collected by the Health Authority between 2013 and 2016 (measurement 1), and followed up with assessments of their children in 2023 (measurement 2). Temporal changes in inorganic arsenic concentration were analyzed using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test, and a mixed linear regression model was employed to determine which factors contributed to urinary inorganic arsenic levels. We did not observe significant differences in mean arsenic concentrations between the two-time points (p = 0.4026). The mixed linear regression model revealed that children consuming bottled water had 8.3% lower urinary inorganic arsenic concentrations than those drinking tap water (95% CI: −15.36 to −0.54%). Additionally, children from ethnic groups had 8.64% higher inorganic arsenic concentrations (95% CI: 0.49 to 17.5%), while those with caregivers with higher education showed a 13.67% reduction (95% CI: −25.06 to −0.56%). Despite mitigation efforts, these findings underscore the ongoing risk of inorganic arsenic exposure among vulnerable populations. They further emphasize the importance of addressing natural arsenic contamination in water and implementing targeted interventions to reduce disparities associated with socioeconomic and demographic factors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prenatal Chemical Exposure and Child Health Outcomes)
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13 pages, 749 KiB  
Article
Prenatal and Childhood Exposure to Humidifier Disinfectants and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Insights from a Retrospective Cohort Design
by Hyowon Choi, Hunju Lee and Yeon-Soon Ahn
Toxics 2025, 13(2), 78; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13020078 - 23 Jan 2025
Viewed by 721
Abstract
Humidifier disinfectants (HDs), also known toxic indoor chemicals, have been linked to adverse health outcomes in children. However, their association with ADHD development remains largely unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the incidence of ADHD among HD claimants and assess the association between [...] Read more.
Humidifier disinfectants (HDs), also known toxic indoor chemicals, have been linked to adverse health outcomes in children. However, their association with ADHD development remains largely unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the incidence of ADHD among HD claimants and assess the association between HD exposure and ADHD risk. A cohort of HD damage claimants born between 2002 and 2011 was established. ADHD cases and controls were identified using matched National Health Insurance Service claim data, with follow-ups required until age 10. ADHD incidence was calculated, and exposure characteristics—including the use of PHMG/PGH, humidifier distance and location, and cumulative and annual exposure duration—were analyzed. Cox proportional hazards analysis was performed, adjusting for sociodemographic factors and comorbidities. Among 1597 subjects, 84 were diagnosed with ADHD, resulting in an incidence density of 4.782 per 1000 person–years. Higher cumulative exposure duration and hours significantly increased the hazard ratio (HR) for ADHD. Additionally, exposure during the first three years after birth was associated with a higher HR for ADHD. These findings suggest that ADHD incidence is elevated in HD claimants and that HD exposure, particularly prolonged or early-life exposure, is associated with increased ADHD risk. Further research is required to confirm these findings in exposed cohorts and to elucidate the mechanisms underlying HD-related ADHD. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prenatal Chemical Exposure and Child Health Outcomes)
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