Research Summaries
Research summaries of ECHO publications endeavor to share study results with participants and the public.
In the search tool below, you can filter research summaries by outcome area, exposure category, and research type. You can also narrow search results down by selecting a specific date range or searching for a specific keyword. See the legend for more information about each filterable category.
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Exposure to Flame-retardant Chemicals During Pregnancy Associated with Differences in Child Growth Patterns
April 8, 2026
Understanding how early-life environmental exposures are associated with child growth trajectories is important because childhood growth rates can be linked to later risk of obesity and heart disease. This study... Read More
Smoking During Pregnancy Linked to Mental Health Challenges in Children, ECHO Study Finds
April 6, 2026
Researchers from this study wanted to understand whether prenatal smoking contributes to co-occurring emotional and behavioral symptoms or specifically behavioral symptoms, and whether its effects differ by age or sex.... Read More
Stress During Pregnancy & Adverse Experiences in Mom’s Own Childhood May Be Associated with Child Mental Health, ECHO Study Finds
March 11, 2026
The global rise in pediatric mental health problems has highlighted the importance of identifying factors that may affect children’s mental health. Previous research has suggested that maternal stress—both adverse experiences... Read More
Perceived Stress During Pregnancy Associated with Autism-related Traits in Children, ECHO Study Finds
March 2, 2026
This study examined the potential association between perceived stress during pregnancy and autism-related traits in children and evaluated how that association may differ according to the child’s sex or the... Read More
Maternal Smoking During Pregnancy May Be Associated with Increased Childhood Blood Pressure, ECHO Study Finds
February 16, 2026
Blood pressure that is higher than normal in childhood, including diagnosed high blood pressure, can increase the risk of developing high blood pressure as an adult, which is a major... Read More
Exposure to PM2.5 Air Pollution During Pregnancy Associated with Lower Birthweight, ECHO Study Finds
February 6, 2026
Previous research has examined the effects of PM2.5 exposure during pregnancy on birth outcomes, but gaps remain. More research is needed to understand whether there are critical windows during pregnancy... Read More
Exposure to Certain Flame-retardant Chemicals During Pregnancy May Be Linked with Decreased Cognitive Function in Young Children, ECHO Study Finds
February 1, 2026
With increasing human exposure to Organophosphate esters (OPEs), especially during sensitive periods like pregnancy, there has been concern about the potential impact on child cognitive development. Previous studies have found... Read More
ECHO Study Investigates Relationship Between Chemical Exposures, Pregnancy Stress, & Birth Outcomes
January 7, 2026
There are over 350,000 chemicals registered for global use, and the impact of many emerging or understudied chemicals on birth outcomes is not well understood. Additionally, prior studies have not... Read More
Sleep Habits Vary for Children Living in Medically Underserved Areas But Not in Rural Communities, ECHO Study Finds
December 27, 2025
Few studies have evaluated how living in a rural or medically underserved area shapes children’s access to health-promoting resources. Because these geographic and healthcare barriers can influence key behaviors such... Read More
Higher Early-Life PM2.5 Linked to Higher Childhood Blood Pressure, While Prenatal NO2 Exposure Associated with Lower Blood Pressure, ECHO Study Finds
December 23, 2025
Specific pollutants such as fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) are emitted from vehicles, power plants, and industrial processes. These pollutants are known contributors to heart disease in... Read More
Home Conditions and Outdoor Air Pollution May Together Influence Children’s Asthma Risk, ECHO Study Finds
December 23, 2025
Prior research has examined indoor and outdoor exposures separately and frequently lacked the power to fully evaluate their cumulative or interacting effects on childhood asthma. This study brings together data... Read More
ECHO Study Finds Association Between Exposure to Certain PFAS and Maternal Depression & Stress During/After Pregnancy
December 1, 2025
This study aimed to clarify whether PFAS exposure during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of depression and stress, and whether social factors affect these associations. Read More
Exposure to Fine Particulate Air Pollution in Early Pregnancy Linked to Lower Birth Weight, ECHO Study Finds
December 1, 2025
Prior research has shown that exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5)—very small inhalable particles found in air pollution—during pregnancy can negatively affect birth weight. Many past studies examined average exposure... Read More
Wildfire Smoke Exposure May Be Linked to Higher Risk of Preterm Birth, ECHO Study Finds
November 3, 2025
Pregnant women and the developing fetus may be particularly sensitive to the effects of wildfire PM2.5. Previous studies have associated wildfire smoke with preterm birth. This study builds on previous... Read More
Children in High Gun Violence Areas Less Likely to Report Excellent Health, ECHO Study Finds
November 1, 2025
Gun violence in communities has been linked to adverse mental health outcomes in children. However, most prior studies have focused on mental health effects in older children and have not... Read More
The BREATHE Study: Bronchiolitis Recovery and Use of HEPA Filters
October 27, 2025
The BREATHE study was done to find out if HEPA filters used in a baby’s house can help them breathe better than if no filter is used in their house.... Read More
ECHO Study Examines the Effects of COVID-19–Related Changes in Caregiver and Child Behavior on Youth Mental Health
October 17, 2025
This study examined changes in family hardships, behaviors, and coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic and evaluated whether these changes were associated with youth pandemic-related post-traumatic stress (PTS) symptoms. Read More
PFAS Exposure During Pregnancy Not Associated with Behavior Issues in Children, ECHO Study Finds
September 5, 2025
Previous findings on the effects of prenatal PFAS exposure on child behavior have been inconclusive due to small sample sizes, limited exposure variability, and differing measures of child behavior. This... Read More
Toddler Emotional and Behavioral Problems Decreased Slightly During Pandemic, ECHO Study Finds
September 3, 2025
Previous research raised concerns about the development of infants born during the pandemic, but there is limited evidence on how the pandemic affected the behavioral and emotional well-being of toddlers.... Read More
PFAS Exposure Associated with Changes in Gut Microbiome During Pregnancy
August 15, 2025
The composition of the gut microbiome is dependent on a variety of factors, including diet, lifestyle, and exposure to environmental chemicals. These microbes often help aid digestion, support immune health,... Read More
Exposure to Common Flame-retardant Chemicals During Pregnancy May Be Associated with Behavioral Issues in Young Children, ECHO Study Finds
August 1, 2025
Previous research has linked exposure to OPEs during pregnancy with potential adverse effects on child brain development, but more evidence is needed. In this study, researchers investigated the association between... Read More
ECHO Study Finds Exposure to Phenols During Pregnancy Associated with Changes in Non-Nutritive Suck Patterns in Infants
August 1, 2025
Non-nutritive sucking is characterized by bursts of sucking separated by pauses to breathe. Researchers can measure the frequency, speed, and strength of non-nutritive sucking. Because sucking is a behavior present... Read More
Prenatal Exposure to Phthalates, But Not Phthalate Replacements, Linked to Children’s Behavior, ECHO Study Finds
August 1, 2025
In this study, researchers examined many chemicals that form when the body breaks down phthalates and other plasticizers to see if exposure to these chemicals during pregnancy might be associated... Read More
ECHO Study Observes Health Disparities in Air Pollution-associated Risk of Childhood Asthma
August 1, 2025
Although air pollution levels have decreased over the past decades, individuals living in certain areas have seen lower reductions in air pollution and may also be more vulnerable to its... Read More
Prenatal Vitamin D Levels Associated with Children’s Brain Development, ECHO Study Suggests
August 1, 2025
This study aimed to clarify how vitamin D levels during pregnancy may influence children’s brain development, particularly in varied groups and into later childhood. While prior research suggests prenatal vitamin... Read More
Children Living in Low-income Neighborhoods with Low Food Access at Higher Risk of Developing Asthma, ECHO Study Finds
June 30, 2025
In this study, the researchers wanted to learn whether residing in a low-income-low-food access neighborhood was associated with childhood asthma and whether this association was modified by sociodemographic factors. Read More
Young Children May Be Exposed to a Variety of Emerging Chemicals Found in Some Consumer Products
June 30, 2025
There is limited data tracking young children’s – 2 to 4 years - exposure to environmental chemicals compared to older children. Prenatal and early-life exposure to these chemicals can increase... Read More
Adverse Birth Outcomes May be Associated with Arsenic Levels in Public Drinking Water
June 16, 2025
Prenatal exposure to arsenic has been associated with adverse birth outcomes, including preterm birth and low birthweight. Researchers studied how arsenic in public drinking water—at levels below the federal limit—may... Read More
A Diet High in Refined Grains and Low in Whole Grains in Pregnancy Linked to Lower Birthweights and Pre-term Births
June 12, 2025
By examining dietary patterns within racial and ethnic groups, the researchers aimed to uncover more precise links between diet and birth outcomes. These links might be overlooked when analyzing the... Read More
Prenatal Exposure to Air Pollution Associated with Higher Risk for Autism-related Outcomes, ECHO Study Finds
June 11, 2025
Previous research has suggested potential links between air pollution and neurodevelopmental disorders, but the relationship between exposure to air pollution, even at low levels, during pregnancy and ASD has been... Read More