Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 20, 2025

Long-term Behavioral and Reproductive Consequences of Embryonic Exposure to Low-dose Toxicants
07:08

Long-term Behavioral and Reproductive Consequences of Embryonic Exposure to Low-dose Toxicants

Published on: March 6, 2018

6.1K

Prenatal exposure to phthalates and emotional/behavioral development in young children

Liron Cohen-Eliraz1, Asher Ornoy2, Eliana Ein-Mor3

  • 1Psychology Department Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.

Neurotoxicology
|August 3, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Prenatal exposure to Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is linked to emotional and behavioral issues in 24-month-old boys. High DEHP exposure in mothers correlated with lower social skills and increased internalizing and externalizing problems in male toddlers.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) like phthalates are ubiquitous environmental contaminants.
  • Prenatal exposure to EDCs has been suggested to correlate with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes, including behavioral difficulties in children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between intrauterine phthalate exposure and the emotional and behavioral development of toddlers at 24 months of age.

Main Methods:

  • Maternal urine samples were collected during early gestation (11-18 weeks) and analyzed for phthalate metabolites (DEHP, DiNP, MBzBP).
  • Offspring development and behavior were assessed at 24 months using standardized maternal reports (CBCL, ASQ-3, HOME questionnaires).
  • Multivariate General Linear Models (GLM) were employed to analyze associations between phthalate metabolite levels and developmental outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Maternal exposure to Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) was significantly associated with behavioral and developmental outcomes exclusively in boys.
  • Boys with high prenatal DEHP exposure exhibited lower scores in personal-social abilities (ASQ-3) compared to those with low exposure.
  • High DEHP exposure in boys was linked to increased internalizing problems (e.g., emotional reactivity, anxiety, depression) and externalizing problems.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal DEHP metabolite concentrations in early pregnancy are associated with emotional and behavioral developmental problems in 24-month-old boys.
  • These findings support growing evidence of DEHP as a potentially harmful chemical, necessitating environmental vigilance.
  • The study highlights sex-specific effects of prenatal phthalate exposure on child development.
Abstract

Keywords:
DEHPNeurodevelopmentPesticidesPhthalatesPregnancy

More Related Videos

Assessment of the Effects of Endocrine Disrupting Compounds on the Development of Vertebrate Neural Network Function Using Multi-electrode Arrays08:28

Assessment of the Effects of Endocrine Disrupting Compounds on the Development of Vertebrate Neural Network Function Using Multi-electrode Arrays

Published on: April 26, 2018

6.0K
Collection of Alfalfa Root Exudates to Study the Impact of Di2-ethylhexyl Phthalate on Metabolite Production06:46

Collection of Alfalfa Root Exudates to Study the Impact of Di2-ethylhexyl Phthalate on Metabolite Production

Published on: June 2, 2023

1.8K

Related Concept Videos

Socioemotional Development during Infancy01:30

Socioemotional Development during Infancy

Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
84
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder01:30

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects approximately 5-8% of children globally, with around 60-70% of cases persisting into adulthood. ADHD has significant implications for educational attainment, social interactions, and occupational success.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
131
Preparedness and Phobias01:09

Preparedness and Phobias

Human fear responses to certain stimuli, such as darkness, heights, deep water, and blood, can often arise despite the absence of direct negative experiences. This phenomenon is rooted in evolutionary psychology, which posits that humans have developed a predisposition to fear stimuli that historically posed significant survival threats. This predisposition, known as preparedness, suggests that early humans who developed a fear of potentially dangerous entities, such as venomous snakes and...
122
Psychosexual Theory of Development01:14

Psychosexual Theory of Development

Sigmund Freud's psychosexual theory of development suggests that early childhood experiences significantly shape personality and behavior. Freud proposed that development is discontinuous, occurring in five distinct stages, each defined by a focus on different erogenous zones. He believed that failure to resolve the conflicts specific to each stage successfully could result in fixation, potentially influencing behavior as adults.
The Five Stages of Psychosexual Development
Freud's...
332
Teratogenicity01:07

Teratogenicity

The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
2.5K
Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Phallic01:12

Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Phallic

The third stage of psychosexual development proposed by Freud is the phallic stage, occurring between the ages of 3 and 6. During this period, children become aware of their bodies and the differences between males and females. The erogenous zone in this stage is the genitals, and conflicts arise as children develop desires toward the opposite-sex parent. Boys experience the Oedipus complex, where they desire their mother and view their father as a rival. This leads to castration anxiety, the...
666