Mixtures of chemicals in pregnancy and their effects on cognitive and fine motor abilities in childhood

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 intelligen...

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Published in:Environmental research Vol. 285; no. Pt 2; p. 122380
Main Authors: Brennan Kearns, Pavla, González, Llúcia, Soler-Blasco, Raquel, Andiarena, Ainara, Santa-Marina, Loreto, Casas, Maribel, Burgaleta, Miguel, Vrijheid, Martine, Guxens, Mònica
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 15.11.2025
Subjects:
Adult
Chemical mixtures
Child
Child, Preschool
childhood
chlorinated hydrocarbons
cognition
Cognition - drug effects
Cognitive abilities
Environmental Pollutants - toxicity
Female
Fine motor function
Humans
Male
Maternal Exposure
memory
Motor Skills - drug effects
Neurodevelopment
Phenols - toxicity
phthalates
Pregnancy
Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects - chemically induced
Prenatal exposures
probability
Spain
Spain
Prenatal exposures
Neurodevelopment
Fine motor function
Chemical mixtures
Cognitive abilities
ISSN:0013-9351, 1096-0953, 1096-0953
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary: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. •Prenatal exposure to 29 chemicals is not linked to most cognitive or motor functions.•Chemical mixture linked to lower visuomotor attention, higher verbal IQ, but not robust.•Findings do not support an effect of these chemicals on neurodevelopment.
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ISSN:0013-9351
1096-0953
1096-0953
DOI:10.1016/j.envres.2025.122380