Combined prenatal exposure to airborne polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and maternal distress is associated with childhood irritability
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22071801 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Mariah DeSerisy (0000-0002-3936-9708, The Ohio State University, corresponding author), Daryn Wong (Columbia University), Huiyu Yang (0000-0003-2184-0386, New York Psychoanalytic Society and Institute), Jacob W Cohen (0000-0002-6846-0201, New York Psychoanalytic Society and Institute), David Pagliaccio (0000-0002-1214-1965, New York Psychoanalytic Society and Institute), Julie B Herbstman (0000-0001-5531-163X, Columbia University), Virginia Rauh (0000-0003-3164-9892, Columbia University), Frederica P Perera (0000-0002-1364-9250, Columbia University), Frederica Perera (0000-0002-2263-7008, Columbia University), Art Margolis (0000-0002-3334-6783, The Ohio State University), Amy E Margolis (Child Mind Institute) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 14 |
| Pages | 1737011-1737011 |
| Publication date | 2026-06-02 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Frontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565 |
| Publisher | Frontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH) |
| DOI | 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1737011 |
| PMID | 42311992 |
| OpenAlex | W7163194203 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 130 |
Background: Childhood irritability is a transdiagnostic risk marker of neurodevelopmental problems. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and psychosocial stressors have been independently associated with altered emotional and behavioral symptoms akin to irritability, but the joint effects of PAHs and maternal psychological distress on trajectories of irritability symptoms have not been directly examined. We hypothesized that combined exposure to prenatal PAHs and maternal psychological distress would be associated with higher and more persistent irritability across childhood. Methods: Prenatal PAH was measured via personal air monitoring, and maternal psychological distress was measured via the Psychiatric Epidemiology Research Instrument-Demoralization, both measured during mothers' third trimester. Children's irritability symptoms were measured via a novel composite of item-level responses from the Children's Behavior Checklist and Conner's Parent Report Scale at ages 7, 9, and 11. Psychometric robustness of the irritability composite scores (N = 511) were evaluated. Latent growth curve modeling (LGM) examined interactive effects of PAH and maternal distress on irritability trajectories (N = 394 with complete exposure and outcome data). Follow-up linear regression analyses tested associations at ages 9 and 11. Results: The irritability composite score was unitary and demonstrated good psychometric properties. Combined exposure to prenatal PAH and maternal distress exposure was associated with higher irritability at ages 7, 9 and 11, but not with change in irritability from age 7-11. Conclusions: The novel irritability composite had a unitary factor structure reflecting a single irritability construct. Combined prenatal exposure to PAHs and maternal psychological distress was associated with higher irritability scores at every developmental timepoint suggesting that chemical exposures may exacerbate the effects of maternal distress on child irritability or vice versa. Exposure to either was not associated with change in irritability over time
Distress · Irritability · Prenatal exposure · Psychosocial · Stressor · Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder · Health, Environment, Cognitive Aging · Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum · Epidemiology
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| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |