Rachael Gakii Murithi
College of Biological and Physical Sciences, University of Nairobi, Kenya
Publications
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Research Article
Prenatal Exposure to Airborne and Indoor Pollutants and the Risk of Childhood Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Author(s): Rachael Gakii Murithi*, Chan Lu and Kun Tang
A substantial proportion of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) cases remain without clear etiology, with environmental factors increasingly implicated alongside genetic predispositions. This review synthesizes evidence linking prenatal exposure to outdoor air pollutants and indoor environmental contaminants with childhood behavioral and cognitive impairments. We evaluated peer-reviewed studies examining prenatal exposure to major neurotoxicants—including traffic-related air pollution (TRAP), ultrafine particles, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), persistent organic pollutants (POPs), heavy metals, pesticides, bisphenol-A, and phthalates—and their associations with ASD, ADHD, depression, and cognitive deficits. Evidence was integrated by pollutant type, emphasizing mechanistic pathways. Across diverse geographical settin.. Read More»