What We're Learning

The ECHO Program has published more than 1,500 articles about the results of its research, including many that looked at chemical exposures.

Here are recent examples of ECHO research:

Study Reveals Rising Levels of Plastics, Pesticides, and Replacement Chemicals in Pregnant Women
May 2022
Over 50% of women had more than one-third of the studied chemicals, and over 90% of pregnant women had one-fifth of the chemicals, showing widespread exposure.

ECHO Study Finds Link Between Phthalate Exposure and Preterm Birth, Estimates Potential Costs
February 2024
Certain phthalates were linked to a doubled risk of preterm birth in women with the highest exposure. The study also calculated the costs associated with phthalate exposure.

ECHO Research Suggests Airborne Lead Exposure Affects Children’s Cognitive Development, Impacting Males More Than Females
March 2024
Children who lived in areas with relatively more lead pollution in the air in the early years of their lives exhibited less impulse control and had slightly lower IQ scores when they reached preschool and school age.

ECHO Study Finds Flame-Retardant Chemicals May Increase Risk Of Preterm Birth and Higher Birth Weight
January 2024
Pregnant individuals exposed to specific classes of flame retardants may face an increased risk of preterm birth, especially for baby girls and babies with higher birth weights

Maternal PFAS Exposure During Pregnancy May Increase Children’s Risk of Obesity
June 2023
Higher levels of some PFAS during pregnancy were linked with slightly higher body mass index (BMI) in children and increased risk of obesity.

ECHO Study Suggests Exposure to PFAS During Pregnancy May Be Linked to Lower Birthweights
March 2023
PFAS were found in almost all study participants, and participants with higher levels of PFAS in their blood were more likely to have babies born at lower birthweights compared to those with lower levels of PFAS exposure.