Common environmental chemicals can affect birth weight and placental function, a new study published in 2012 found. environmental science and technology It is led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), a center supported by the “la Caixa” foundation. This study, conducted within the Barcelona Life Study Cohort (BiSC), highlights the importance of considering real-life exposures to complex chemical mixtures and highlights the role of angiogenic biomarkers in the association of these exposures with fetal development.
Understand how everyday chemicals affect pregnancy
Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are ubiquitous in everyday life, including food, water, personal care products, and the home environment. These substances, which include phthalates, phenols, parabens, pesticides, and emerging compounds such as bisphenol S (BPS), can enter the body through ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact.
Pregnancy is a particularly sensitive time because hormonal balance is essential for placental development and fetal growth. The placenta, an important endocrine organ, relies on a tightly regulated angiogenic process (i.e., the formation of new blood vessels) controlled by factors such as placental growth factor (PlGF) and soluble FMS-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1).
“Pregnant women are exposed to a complex mixture of chemicals, rather than a single compound,” explains Bethany Knox, a researcher at ISGlobal and lead author of the study. “Our goal was to better reflect real-world exposures and understand how these mixtures affect both placental and fetal development.”
Different chemical mixtures show distinct effects on fetal development
The study included 734 participants from the Barcelona BiSC cohort, recruited between 2018 and 2021. “We analyzed exposure to more than 40 chemicals by measuring metabolites in pooled, one-week urine samples collected at two stages of pregnancy, 18 and 34 weeks. This approach improves exposure assessment of nonpersistent chemicals, which have short half-lives and can vary significantly over time,” Knox explains.
The research team identified distinct patterns in the association between multiple chemical mixtures and fetal development. Exposure to mixtures of low molecular weight phthalates has been consistently associated with lower birth weight in study populations, suggesting potential adverse effects on fetal development. In contrast, mixtures with organophosphorus compounds, such as pesticides and flame retardants, were associated with increased estimated fetal weight and birth weight, especially during late pregnancy. This association may reflect dietary patterns rather than a direct effect of organophosphate exposure. This is because increased fruit and vegetable intake increases exposure to these compounds while also promoting rapid fetal weight gain.
Beyond these differences in growth, the study also points out that the placenta is an important mediator. Phthalate mixtures are associated with alterations in fetoplacental blood flow and imbalances in angiogenic biomarkers (sFlt-1/PlGF ratio), suggesting biological pathways by which environmental exposures may influence fetal development.
Implications for public health and future research
Our findings contribute to environmental health research by incorporating a broad panel of chemicals in line with European regulatory priorities, including substances whose safety profile is still under evaluation. ”
Martine Vrijheid, Head of the Life Course Environment and Health Program, Research Coordinator
Although deviations from normal fetal growth were observed in this study, they cannot be extrapolated to individuals, and the population in this study is not necessarily representative of all populations. However, this study highlights the importance of considering environmental chemical mixtures in public health research and suggests that widespread exposure can affect fetal development through effects on placental function at the population level.
sauce:
Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)
Reference magazines:
Knox, B. Others. (2026). Prenatal exposure to a mixture of non-persistent endocrine disrupting chemicals and angiogenic biomarkers, placental function, and fetal growth. Environmental science and technology. DOI:10.1021/acs.est.5c13234. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.5c13234
