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Maternal exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and visual developmental outcomes in early childhood

Ying Zhang1, Yang Zhou2, Mingda Chu2

  • 1Department of Gastroenterology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, No.36, Sanhao Street, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, China.

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
|October 30, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Prenatal exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is linked to childhood visual impairment. Maternal PAH metabolites in urine were associated with increased risks of visual acuity problems and refractive errors in children.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Epidemiology
  • Ophthalmology
  • Developmental Toxicology

Background:

  • Childhood visual impairment is a significant public health issue.
  • Limited data exists on prenatal environmental exposures, specifically polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and their impact on ocular development.
  • Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are environmental pollutants with potential developmental toxicity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between maternal exposure to hydroxylated PAH (OH-PAH) metabolites during pregnancy and visual outcomes in early childhood.
  • To identify specific OH-PAH metabolites linked to visual impairment, refractive errors, and axial length in children.
  • To evaluate the cumulative effects of mixed OH-PAH exposures on child vision.

Main Methods:

  • Recruitment of 5330 mother-child pairs.
  • Measurement of 11 urinary OH-PAH metabolites in maternal samples during the third trimester.
  • Standardized ophthalmic assessments in children, including visual acuity, autorefraction, and axial length measurements.
  • Application of multivariable logistic regression and mixture models (g-computation and gWQS) to analyze exposure-outcome relationships.

Main Results:

  • Elevated 2-hydroxynaphthalene (2-OH Nap) was associated with a 1.42-fold increased risk of right-eye visual acuity impairment.
  • Exposure to 2-OH Nap and 1-hydroxynaphthalene (1-OH Nap) correlated with higher risks of refractive errors in both eyes.
  • Significant associations were found between 9-hydroxyphenanthrene (9-OH Phe) and 3-hydroxychrysene (3-OH Chr) with left-eye refractive impairment.
  • Axial elongation in children showed significant positive associations with 2-OH Nap, 1-OH Nap, and 9-OH Phe.
  • Mixture analyses indicated cumulative effects of OH-PAHs on refractive outcomes and axial length.

Conclusions:

  • Prenatal exposure to specific polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is associated with visual impairment in early childhood.
  • The developing eye is susceptible to environmental pollutants, highlighting potential risks from maternal PAH exposure.
  • Findings underscore the need for public health initiatives to reduce maternal PAH exposure during pregnancy to protect child vision.

Keywords:
Childhood visionPolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbonsPrenatal exposureVisual impairment

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