Cohort profile: Sheyang Mini Birth Cohort Study (SMBCS).
Jiming Zhang1, Qin Guo1, Xiaojuan Qi1
1School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
BMJ Open
|July 3, 2026
Summary
The Sheyang Mini Birth Cohort Study found widespread environmental pollutant exposure in children, impacting physical, neural, and pubertal development. Future research will examine long-term effects into adulthood.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Pediatric Development
- Toxicology
Background:
- The Sheyang Mini Birth Cohort Study (SMBCS) investigates environmental influences on child development.
- China's Sheyang County is the setting for this long-term research initiative.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of prenatal and postnatal environmental factors on children's development.
- To identify specific contaminants and their effects on growth and health outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 1303 pregnant women and 1312 newborns between 2009-2010.
- Conducted 11 follow-up rounds until 2025, including physical, neurodevelopmental, and pubertal assessments.
- Analyzed biological samples for pesticides, phenols, PFAS, PBDEs, metals, and metabolites.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated widespread exposure to multiple environmental contaminants across developmental stages.
- Observed adverse effects of individual and combined exposures on physical, neural, and pubertal development.
- Identified potential metabolic, monoamine, and hormonal pathways linked to these effects.
Conclusions:
- Environmental pollutants significantly impact children's development from early life.
- Ongoing research will explore long-term health consequences into adolescence and adulthood.
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