Megan Sieg

Interdisciplinary Environmental Toxicology Scholar – I am a Ph.D. candidate in the Neuroscience Program working with Dr. Susan Schantz. My research examines how prenatal exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals may affect cognitive development in infants. I am specifically interested in the potential interactive effects of prenatal exposure to acetaminophen and phthalates influence neurodevelopment. Acetaminophen is the most common drug ingredient in the United States and is the main analgesic drug that pregnant women are told they can use. Numerous studies have indicated that phthalates have anti-androgenic effects and effect neurodevelopment, and acetaminophen has also recently been shown to have similar effects. I will evaluate the association of prenatal exposure to each of these compounds individually, as well as together to investigate interactive effects, on social cognition at 7.5 months and 2 years, and language development at 2 and 3 years.