Maternal House Dust–Related Cleaning Behaviors During Pregnancy Associated with Child Developmental Screening Outcomes
Summary
More frequent house dust–related cleaning during pregnancy was associated with lower odds of screening positive for developmental concerns through age 3
House dust contains chemical and biological components that may influence the indoor environment during pregnancy. Researchers from Japan analyzed 81,125 mother–child pairs and found that more frequent house dust–related cleaning behaviors during pregnancy were associated with lower odds of screening positive for developmental concerns from 18 months to 3 years. The findings highlight household environmental management as a potential area for further study while underscoring the need for objective exposure measurements.
- Image title： Maternal House Dust–Related Cleaning Behaviors During Pregnancy and Child Development
- Image caption： More frequent house dust–related cleaning during pregnancy was associated with lower odds of developmental concerns from 18 months to 3 years, although causality remains uncertain.
- Credit：Specially Appointed Assistant Professor Kanako Shimada, University of Toyama, Japan
- License type：Original Content
- Usage restrictions：Cannot be used without permission.
Research Details
Reference
Title of original paper
Maternal house dust–related cleaning behaviors during pregnancy and neurodevelopment from 18 months to 3 years of age in the Japan Environment and Children’s Study
Journal
BMC Pediatrics
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-026-07588-7
Additional information for EurekAlert
Latest Article Publication Date
3 September 2026
Method of Research
Observational study
Subject of Research
People
Conflicts of Interest Statement
The authors declare no competing interests.
Media contact
Azusa Matsuda
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