- There are 26 chemicals that disrupt hormones in first three months of pregnancy
- Children whose mothers had higher exposure had lower IQ scores at age seven
- Blood and urine samples were taken from 718 mothers for the study in Sweden
Chemicals used in some plastic, soap, cosmetic and cleaning products have been linked to lower IQs in developing babies and children, particularly boys.
Experts looked at levels of a cocktail of 26 chemicals known to have the potential to disrupt the endocrine system or hormones in the bodies of women during the first three months of pregnancy.
Blood and urine samples were taken from 718 mothers involved in a long-term study following the health and development of families in Sweden.