Do indoor air pollutants during pregnancy hurt the baby's brain development?

What's actually in it

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are gases released from paints, varnishes, adhesives, cleaning products, air fresheners, new furniture, flooring, and carpets. Indoor VOC concentrations are often higher than outdoors because homes trap these gases.

Common indoor VOCs include benzene, toluene, formaldehyde, xylene, and styrene. Many are known neurotoxins. During pregnancy, a mother's exposure passes directly to the fetus through her bloodstream.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Environmental Health followed children from birth and found that those whose mothers had higher prenatal VOC exposure showed impaired synaptic plasticity and cognitive function. The brain's synaptic connections, which are built during fetal development and early childhood, were less developed in children with higher prenatal VOC exposure.

The effects showed up as lower scores on cognitive assessments, including memory, attention, and executive function tests. The window of highest vulnerability was the second trimester, when rapid brain cell proliferation and synapse formation occurs.

Practical steps to reduce exposure during pregnancy: ventilate rooms when using any cleaning product, avoid painting or refinishing furniture in the home, choose low-VOC or zero-VOC paint, and increase general ventilation in the home by opening windows when outdoor air quality allows.