Sense Question:

Is the increased prevalence of health problems in Western society related to exposure to mixtures of environmental chemicals in early life stages? (Dr J. Legler and Dr T. Hamers, IVM-VU, Amsterdam)

Relevance of this question:

A new paradigm has evolved in recent years, which stems from the idea that environmental factors in early life and in utero can have profound influences on lifelong health (e.g., the “fetal basis of adult disease” or the “developmental origins of health and disease” (DOHaD) paradigm. The exposure of humans to a mixture of persistent and widespread environmental contaminants during early life stages may contribute to health problems later in life, such as reproductive and (neuro)developmental disorders and increased prevalence of disease.