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Environmental Chemicals and Maternal Depression During and After Pregnancy: a Scoping Review
Summary
A scoping review of 27 studies found that maternal exposure to NO2, PM10, phthalates, PBDE, and PFAS was most consistently associated with antenatal and postnatal depression, suggesting that reducing environmental chemical exposures could be a primary prevention strategy for maternal mental health. Phthalates and PFAS are chemical additives in plastics, and this finding strengthens the case that microplastic-associated chemical leaching poses measurable risks to human health beyond the particles themselves.
We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Dimensions, and Scopus, and summarized the findings from 27 articles that examined environmental chemical exposures and maternal depression. Studies of ambient air pollutants (N = 11) showed exposure to NO2 and PM10 to be most consistently associated with antenatal or postnatal depression. Studies of endocrine-disrupting chemicals, including phthalates (n = 6), per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS, n = 6), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE, n = 3), organophosphate esters flame retardants (OPE, n = 2), and pesticides (n = 1), reported positive links with maternal depression, particularly from exposures to phthalates and PBDE. Studies of the individual and mixture of metals (n = 3) have reported mixed results. Maternal exposures to certain airborne pollutants, and chemicals from contaminated household products and food sources, are associated with maternal depression. If these findings are confirmed, reducing environmental risks may represent a promising strategy for the primary prevention of maternal depression.