{"entity": "journal", "iuid": "b16613cee1df407699880df3a478977a", "timestamp": "2026-08-20T20:45:15.828Z", "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/journal/Neurotoxicology.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/journal/Neurotoxicology"}}, "title": "Neurotoxicology", "issn": "1872-9711", "issn-l": null, "publications_count": 2, "publications": [{"entity": "publication", "iuid": "9a21c100bd8b46eab2dfa0124f09b2a3", "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/9a21c100bd8b46eab2dfa0124f09b2a3.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/9a21c100bd8b46eab2dfa0124f09b2a3"}}, "title": "Using machine learning to investigate the influence of the prenatal chemical exposome on neurodevelopment of young children.", "authors": [{"family": "England-Mason", "given": "Gillian", "initials": "G"}, {"family": "MacEachern", "given": "Sarah J", "initials": "SJ"}, {"family": "Amador", "given": "Kimberly", "initials": "K"}, {"family": "Soomro", "given": "Munawar Hussain", "initials": "MH"}, {"family": "Reardon", "given": "Anthony J F", "initials": "AJF"}, {"family": "MacDonald", "given": "Amy M", "initials": "AM"}, {"family": "Kinniburgh", "given": "David W", "initials": "DW"}, {"family": "Letourneau", "given": "Nicole", "initials": "N"}, {"family": "Giesbrecht", "given": "Gerald F", "initials": "GF"}, {"family": "Martin", "given": "Jonathan W", "initials": "JW"}, {"family": "Forkert", "given": "Nils D", "initials": "ND"}, {"family": "Dewey", "given": "Deborah", "initials": "D"}], "type": "journal article", "published": "2025-05-00", "journal": {"title": "Neurotoxicology", "issn": "1872-9711", "volume": "108", "pages": "218-230", "issn-l": null}, "abstract": "Research investigating the prenatal chemical exposome and child neurodevelopment has typically focused on a limited number of chemical exposures and controlled for sociodemographic factors and maternal mental health. Emerging machine learning approaches may facilitate more comprehensive examinations of the contributions of chemical exposures, sociodemographic factors, and maternal mental health to child neurodevelopment. A machine learning pipeline that utilized feature selection and ranking was applied to investigate which common prenatal chemical exposures and sociodemographic factors best predict neurodevelopmental outcomes in young children. Data from 406 maternal-child pairs enrolled in the APrON study were used. Maternal concentrations of 32 environmental chemical exposures (i.e., phthalates, bisphenols, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), metals, trace elements) measured during pregnancy and 11 sociodemographic factors, as well as measures of maternal mental health and urinary creatinine were entered into the machine learning pipeline. The pipeline, which consisted of a RReliefF variable selection algorithm and support vector machine regression model, was used to identify and rank the best subset of variables predictive of cognitive, language, and motor development outcomes on the Bayley Scales of Infant Development-Third Edition (Bayley-III) at 2 years of age. Bayley-III cognitive scores were best predicted using 29 variables, resulting in a correlation coefficient of r = 0.27 (R2=0.07). For language outcomes, 45 variables led to the best result (r = 0.30; R2=0.09), whereas for motor outcomes 33 variables led to the best result (r = 0.28, R2=0.09). Environmental chemicals, sociodemographic factors, and maternal mental health were found to be highly ranked predictors of cognitive, language, and motor development in young children. Our findings demonstrate the potential of machine learning approaches to identify and determine the relative importance of different predictors of child neurodevelopmental outcomes. Future developmental neurotoxicology research should consider the prenatal chemical exposome as well as sample characteristics such as sociodemographic factors and maternal mental health as important predictors of child neurodevelopment.", "doi": "10.1016/j.neuro.2025.04.001", "pmid": "40222479", "labels": [], "xrefs": [{"db": "mid", "key": "NIHMS2174408"}, {"db": "pmc", "key": "PMC13227153"}, {"db": "pii", "key": "S0161-813X(25)00036-1"}], "notes": [], "created": "2026-08-20T08:02:10.486Z", "modified": "2026-08-20T08:02:10.534Z"}, {"entity": "publication", "iuid": "f744d8b791eb45aeb11b1704aaacb3ae", "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/f744d8b791eb45aeb11b1704aaacb3ae.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/f744d8b791eb45aeb11b1704aaacb3ae"}}, "title": "Sex-specific associations between maternal phthalate exposure and neurodevelopmental outcomes in children at 2 years of age in the APrON cohort.", "authors": [{"family": "Dewey", "given": "Deborah", "initials": "D"}, {"family": "Martin", "given": "Jonathan W", "initials": "JW"}, {"family": "MacDonald", "given": "Amy M", "initials": "AM"}, {"family": "Kinniburgh", "given": "David W", "initials": "DW"}, {"family": "Letourneau", "given": "Nicole", "initials": "N"}, {"family": "Giesbrecht", "given": "Gerald F", "initials": "GF"}, {"family": "Field", "given": "Catherine J", "initials": "CJ"}, {"family": "Bell", "given": "Rhonda C", "initials": "RC"}, {"family": "England-Mason", "given": "Gillian", "initials": "G"}, {"family": "APrON Study Team", "given": "", "initials": ""}], "type": "journal article", "published": "2023-09-00", "journal": {"title": "Neurotoxicology", "issn": "1872-9711", "volume": "98", "pages": "48-60", "issn-l": null}, "abstract": "There is inconsistent evidence regarding the sex-specific associations between prenatal phthalate exposure and children's neurodevelopment. This could be due to differences in the phthalate exposures investigated and the neurodevelopmental domains assessed.\n\nTo evaluate the associations between prenatal phthalate exposure and sex-specific outcomes on measures of cognition, language, motor, executive function, and behaviour in children 2 years of age in the Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition (APrON) cohort.\n\nWe evaluated the associations between prenatal phthalate exposure and sex-specific neurodevelopmental outcomes in children at 2 years of age using data from 448 mothers and their children (222 girls, 226 boys). Nine phthalate metabolites were measured in maternal urine collected in the second trimester of pregnancy. Children's cognitive, language, and motor outcomes were assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development - Third Edition (Bayley-III). Parents completed questionnaires on children's executive function and behavior, the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function- Preschool Version (BRIEF-P) and Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), respectively. Sex-stratified robust multivariate regressions were performed.\n\nHigher maternal concentrations of \u03a3DEHP and its metabolites were associated with lower scores on the Bayley-III Cognitive (\u03b2's from -11.8 to -0.07 95% CI's from -21.3 to -0.01), Language (\u03b2's from -11.7 to -0. 09, 95% CI's from -22.3 to -0.02) and Motor (\u03b2's from -10.9 to -0.07, 95% CI from -20.4 to -0.01) composites in boys. The patterns of association in girls were in the opposite direction on the Cognitive and Language composites; on the Motor composite they were in the same direction as boys, but of reduced strength. Higher concentrations of \u03a3DEHP and its metabolites were associated with higher scores (i.e., more difficulties) on all measures of executive function in girls: inhibitory self-control (B's from 0.05 to 0.11, 95% CI s from -0.01 to 0.15), flexibility (B's from 0.04 to 0.11, 95% CI s from 0.01 to 0.21) and emergent metacognition (B's from -0.01 to 0.06, 95% CIs from -0.01 to 0.20). Similar patterns of attenuated associations were seen in boys. Higher concentrations of \u03a3DEHP and its metabolites were associated with more Externalizing Problems in girls and boys (B's from 0.03 to 6.82, 95% CIs from -0.08 to 12.0). Two phthalates, MMP and MBP, had sex-specific adverse associations on measures of executive function and behaviour, respectively, while MEP was positively associated with boys' cognitive, language, and motor performance. Limited associations were observed between mixtures of maternal phthalates and sex-specific neurodevelopmental outcomes.\n\nMaternal prenatal concentrations of DEHP phthalates were associated with sex specific difference on measures of cognition and language at 2 years of age, specifically, poorer outcomes in boys. Higher exposure to DEHP was associated with poorer motor, executive function, and behavioural outcomes in girls and boys but the strength of these associations differed by sex. Limited associations were noted between phthalate mixtures and child neurodevelopment.", "doi": "10.1016/j.neuro.2023.07.005", "pmid": "37517784", "labels": [], "xrefs": [{"db": "pii", "key": "S0161-813X(23)00101-8"}], "notes": [], "created": "2026-08-20T08:02:08.223Z", "modified": "2026-08-20T08:02:08.297Z"}], "created": "2026-08-20T08:02:08.259Z", "modified": "2026-08-20T08:02:08.259Z"}