Superfund Research Program

June 2024

Paper of the Month or Year

A study led by a team at the Northeastern University SRP Center examined the relationship between exposure to an herbicide before birth and neurodevelopment in young children. Researchers assessed herbicide exposure of 143 mother-baby pairs from Puerto Rico by collecting urine samples from the mothers during pregnancy and measuring levels of glyphosate and breakdown product of herbicide. To evaluate child brain development, researchers used the Battelle Developmental Inventory at 6, 12, and 24 months.

Their findings suggest that exposure to glyphosate during pregnancy may affect early neurodevelopment, with more pronounced delays by the time children reach 24 months, according to the authors. Because glyphosate is widely used, they noted that more research is needed to fully understand potential impacts on children’s neurodevelopment as they grow older.

To learn more, see the NIEHS Environmental Factor Papers of the Month.