"Sadly, keeping babies safe from toxic chemicals is more challenging than ever. A 2025 study in Pediatric Research calls chemical pollution "one of today's most significant threats to the developmental potential of children worldwide." The study found that persistent organic chemicals can cause pregnancy complications and limit fetal growth. It also showed that exposure to flame retardants and organophosphate pesticides is strongly linked to negative effects on children's brain development."
"A 2025 UC Davis study found that exposure to harmful chemicals is "widespread" among U.S. preschoolers. Using data from the National Institute of Health's ECHO Cohort, which follows over 60,000 children, researchers found phthalates, parabens, bisphenols, pesticides, flame retardants, and other chemicals in children's urine. Younger kids had higher levels than older ones, and children from racial and ethnic minority groups faced greater exposure to several types of chemicals."
"Babies have special risks from chemical exposure that adults do not. Chemicals can disrupt their development in the first few years and raise the risk of health problems later on. Immature blood-brain barrier: The first year of life offers toxins easier access to developing neural systems. According to Harvard's Center on the Developing Child, the protective barrier that restricts chemicals from entering brain tissue "is absent in the fetus and only reaches maturity in the first year after birth.""
Chemical pollution poses a major threat to children's developmental potential worldwide. Persistent organic chemicals can cause pregnancy complications and restrict fetal growth. Exposure to flame retardants and organophosphate pesticides is strongly associated with impaired brain development. Phthalates, parabens, bisphenols, pesticides, flame retardants, and other chemicals are widespread in young children's bodies, with younger children and racial and ethnic minority groups showing higher exposures. Infants are especially vulnerable because of an immature blood-brain barrier, higher exposure per body weight, and behaviors like mouthing. Minimizing exposure, particularly to plastics and known neurotoxic chemicals, can reduce developmental risks.
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