Do Thyroid Disrupting Chemicals Influence Foetal Development during Pregnancy?

Sample size: 845 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Marie-Louise Hartoft-Nielsen, Malene Boas, Sofie Bliddal, Åase Krogh Rasmussen, Katharina Main, Ulla Feldt-Rasmussen

Primary Institution: Rigshospitalet, University Hospital of Copenhagen

The study investigates whether endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) affect thyroid hormone homeostasis and foetal development during pregnancy.

The evidence suggests that exposure to certain EDCs may negatively impact maternal thyroid function and consequently foetal development.

Up to 3.5 percent of pregnant women suffer from hypothyroidism.
Thyroid autoantibodies are found in 5%–15% of women of childbearing age.
50% to 80% of pregnant women with possible hypothyroidism would be missed if only high-risk cases were examined.
Maternal thyroid hormone is crucial for foetal neurodevelopment.
Iodine deficiency is a preventable cause of mental retardation in children.

Some chemicals can mess with the hormones that help babies grow in their mom's tummy, which might make them not grow as well.

The study reviews existing literature on the effects of various EDCs on thyroid function and foetal development.

The study may be influenced by the variability in individual thyroid function and exposure to multiple EDCs.

Human studies on the effects of EDCs are scarce, and many existing studies have conflicting results.

The study includes children aged 4–9 years and pregnant women.

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