Does chemical exposure during pregnancy affect your baby's development?

What's actually in it

During pregnancy, your body is exposed to a mix of environmental chemicals from everyday products. These include PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ethers) from flame retardants in furniture and electronics, PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) from nonstick coatings and stain-resistant fabrics, and endocrine disruptors from personal care products and plastics.

These chemicals cross the placenta and reach your developing baby. Because fetal organs are still forming, exposure during this window can have effects that last well beyond birth.

What the research says

A 2026 study in a peer-reviewed journal found that maternal exposure to PBDEs during pregnancy is linked to reduced bone mineral density in children at age 12. This means chemicals you are exposed to while pregnant can affect your child's bone health over a decade later.

Chemical exposure also affects mothers directly. A 2026 study in a peer-reviewed journal reviewed the evidence linking environmental chemicals to maternal depression during and after pregnancy. The study found that chemical exposures can increase the risk of depression at a time when mental health support is critical.

Workplace exposure matters too. A 2026 study in a peer-reviewed journal found that prenatal occupational exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals is linked to altered reproductive hormones in adult male offspring. This suggests that chemical exposure during pregnancy can change hormonal development in ways that persist into adulthood.

PFAS exposure during pregnancy carries additional risks. A 2026 study in a peer-reviewed journal found that higher PFAS levels in pregnant women are linked to changes in gestational weight gain, suggesting these chemicals interfere with metabolic processes during pregnancy.