Illinois Public Media (March 26) – IKIDS, which stands for Illinois Kids Development Study, follows pregnant people from their first trimester and measures their health and exposures to chemicals in consumer products. Researchers then study how those exposures may be affecting children’s physical development and neurodevelopment. Susan Schantz, director of IKIDS and a professor emerita from the College of Veterinary Medicine, said the study not only aims to understand the negative effects of certain chemicals and other exposures, but also the positive impact of factors like a healthy diet. “We’re really focused on understanding what the risks are, but also understanding what the positive health aspects that could mitigate those risks are,” Schantz said.
Long-term Study of Environmental Toxins Reveals Impact on Child Development
