Prenatal Pollutants Linked to Later Behavioral Ills

Inner-city women who breathe powerful airborne pollutants called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons while pregnant are more likely to have children who develop behavioral problems by the time they reach school age, researchers report.

The findings bolster what's known about the influence of prenatal conditions on later health.

In recent years, scientists have found that in utero exposure to a host of toxins including pesticides, outdoor air pollutantss, secondhand tobacco smoke and prescription drugs influence a child's susceptibility to many conditions for years to come.

Earlier this month, Yale researchers reported that studies in mice suggested that cell phone radiation might lead to neurological changes in the part of the brain associated with ADHD. The brain and nervous system of a fetus, still too immature to eliminate toxins or repair damaged DNA, may be particularly sensitive to these assaults. Read More