Volume 272, March 2026, 114745Author links open overlay panel, , , , , , , , , Highlights•

Gestational polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are linked with problem behaviors.

•

Behaviors, mental health symptoms and executive function were reported at age 12.

•

Resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging reveals connectivity patterns.

•

Connectivity patterns significantly mediated exposure outcome relationships.

•

Gestational PBDE alters how the brain processes visual information in global networks.

AbstractBackground

Gestational polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) exposure is linked with adverse neurobehavioral outcomes in children, but scientists do not fully understand how these flame retardants damage the developing brain.

Objective

We estimated the association of gestational PBDE serum concentrations and intrinsic functional connectivity in 143 adolescents from the Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment (HOME) Study, a prospective pregnancy and birth cohort enrolling from 2003 to 2006.

Methods

We measured maternal serum concentrations of five PBDE congeners and created a summary variable (∑5BDE) during pregnancy. At age 12 years, we acquired high resolution anatomical and resting state functional magnetic resonance neuroimaging to examine the relationship between gestational concentrations and intrinsic functional connectivity, adjusting for covariates. We assessed behaviors, mental health symptoms, and executive function using self- and caregiver-reports. We examined whether functional connectivity patterns mediated the observed associations between gestational PBDE concentrations and neurobehavioral outcomes.

Results

Higher gestational BDE-153 serum concentrations were associated with higher local correlation in the left inferior lateral occipital cortex. Higher gestational PBDE serum concentrations (BDE-28, -47, −99, −100, and the ∑5BDE) were associated with reduced global correlation in the primary visual cortex. Seed-to-voxel connectivity patterns showed significant mediation for associations between ∑5BDE and neurobehavioral outcomes.

Discussion

Higher gestational PBDE serum concentrations were associated with diminished connectivity in the primary visual cortex. Connectivity patterns also mediated the relationship between gestational ∑5BDE concentrations and neurobehavioral outcomes at age 12. These findings suggest that gestational PBDE exposure alters how the brain processes visual information across global networks.

Keywords

Polybrominated diphenyl ether flame retardants

Gestational

Adolescent

Visual cortex

Functional magnetic resonance imaging

Functional connectivity

Mediation

Data availabilityThe datasets generated during and/or analyzed for the current study are not publicly available but are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. The HOME Study principal investigators have actively engaged in collaborative data-sharing projects. We welcome new collaborations with other investigators. Investigators interested in HOME Study data can explore options at the following location: https://homestudy.research.cchmc. org/and use the available link to contact the investigators to discuss collaborative opportunities. The Data Sharing Committee meets regularly to review proposed research projects and ensure they do not overlap with extant projects and are an efficient use of scarce resources (e.g., biological samples). Funds to support staff efforts in the assembly and distribution of data sets are required.

© 2026 The Authors. Published by Elsevier GmbH.