Gestational exposure to organophosphate esters (OPEs) and adiposity during middle childhood in the MIREC Cohort.

Gestational exposure to specific organophosphate esters increases childhood adiposity, with BCIPP and DNBP linked to higher obesity risk at 7-11 years.

• Why it matters: Understanding how prenatal chemical exposures influence childhood obesity is crucial for developing preventive strategies and addressing the rising obesity epidemic.
• What they did: The study analyzed 283 mother-child pairs from the MIREC cohort, measuring five OPE metabolites during pregnancy and assessing seven adiposity indicators in children aged 7-11 years using regression and mixture models.
• The result: Doubling BCIPP and DNBP levels during early pregnancy was associated with increased risks of overweight, obesity, and higher body fat measures, highlighting OPEs as potential obesogens affecting long-term health.