Environmental Exposure during Pregnancy: Influence on Prenatal Development and Early Life: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Preconception and prenatal exposure to environmental contaminants may affect future health. Pregnancy and early life are critical sensitive windows of susceptibility. The aim of this review was to summarize current evidence on the toxic effects of environment exposure during pregnancy, the neonatal period, and childhood. Alcohol use is related to foetal alcohol spectrum disorders, foetal alcohol syndrome being its most extreme form. Smoking is associated with placental abnormalities, preterm birth, stillbirth, or impaired growth and development, as well as with intellectual impairment, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases later in life. Negative birth outcomes have been linked to the use of drugs of abuse. Pregnant and lactating women are exposed to endocrine-disrupting chemicals and heavy metals present in foodstuffs, which may alter hormones in the body. Prenatal exposure to these compounds has been associated with pre-eclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction, preterm birth, and thyroid function. Metals can accumulate in the placenta, causing foetal growth restriction. Evidence on the effects of air pollutants on pregnancy is constantly growing, for example, preterm birth, foetal growth restriction, increased uterine vascular resistance, impaired placental vascularization, increased gestational diabetes, and reduced telomere length. The advantages of breastfeeding outweigh any risks from contaminants. However, it is important to assess health outcomes of toxic exposures via breastfeeding. Initial studies suggest an association between pre-eclampsia and environmental noise, particularly with early-onset pre-eclampsia. There is rising evidence of the negative effects of environmental contaminants following exposure during pregnancy and breastfeeding, which should be considered a major public health issue.

Environmental Nanoparticles Reach Human Fetal Brains

“…The EV capacity to impact neurodevelopmental pathologies is an important issue, particularly because we detected them in preeclamptic placentas from petrochemical pollution-exposed women. This information is relevant to the strong association between air pollution and preeclampsia, prematurity, fetal growth restriction, uterine inflammation, and abnormal placenta vascularization [ 88 , 91 , 92 , 93 , 94 ]. Moreover, EVs have been associated with preeclampsia pathophysiology, CNS developmental disorders, and regarded as potential early biomarkers for adverse NP exposure [ 88 , 89 , 94 ].…”

The Changing Climate and Pregnancy Health

“…Given the large literature suggesting consistent link between air pollution and adverse pregnancy outcomes including stillbirth, birth defects, restricted fetal growth, preterm birth, and selected maternal/fetal complications, wildfires are expected to have similar impacts and warrant further investigation. [56][57][58][59][60].…”

Environmental exposure as a risk-modifying factor in liver diseases: Knowns and unknowns

“…Exposure to environmental chemicals is ubiquitous and even neonates have detectable levels of anthropogenic environmental chemicals in their blood and this exposure may be a key factor in the developmental origins of disease 175 , 176 . Importantly, several of these chemicals are known hepatotoxicants ( e.g ., heavy metals) 177 .…”