Chemical exposure and child neurodevelopment research

Recent findings have highlighted the risks associated with chemical pollutants to child health and cognitive development. In Luxembourg, the Environment Agency reported that 41% of sampled children’s clothing items, including jackets and trousers from retailers such as H&M and Decathlon, contained per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exceeding European safety standards. These non-compliant items were removed from sale in late 2025.

Parallel research published in Environmental Health Perspectives by Inserm and several universities has linked prenatal exposure to chemical mixtures with neurological risks. By analyzing 380 mother-child pairs, researchers found that exposure to substances including phthalates, bisphenols, and parabens—particularly during the third trimester—was associated with an average population-level decrease of approximately 2.86 IQ points in children tested at age three. The study identified six priority substances, noting that even individual compounds showed associations with lower cognitive scores.