Exclusive prenatal exposure to a 16 PAH mixture does not impact anxiety-related behaviours and regional brain metabolism in adult male rats: A role for the period of exposure in the modulation of PAH neurotoxicity

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are persistent organic pollutants originating from incomplete combustion processes. Humans are mainly exposed through contaminated food ingestion. PAHs are neurotoxic compounds both for human and rodents, and may be found in placenta, umbilical cord blood and breast milk, suggesting that early exposure may impact developing central nervous system.