[Articles] Prenatal phenol exposure and child behaviour: insights into the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis from two prospective mother–child cohorts

Prenatal exposure to phenols might influence early behavioural development, with sex-specific patterns. There was no strong evidence of mediation by maternal steroid hormones, suggesting the involvement of alternative pathways in the biological effects of phenols. Together with previous findings, these results highlight the need for stricter regulation of these compounds to reduce prenatal exposure.