While the nation’s attention was fixed on a single news conference blaming Tylenol for autism and promising a “cure,” pregnant women in Minnesota and across the U.S. continue to face far more serious, preventable threats. Maternal thyroid deficiencies, PFAS in drinking water, pesticide drift near homes and schools, and lead exposure put developing brains at far greater risk than any OTC medication — hazards that are measurable, widespread and still unaddressed in routine care.
Thyroid health is crucial in early pregnancy. Even modest deviations in maternal thyroid hormone during the first trimester can affect a child’s IQ and brain development, reducing gray matter and cortex volume (Korevaar et al., Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, 2016). Deficiencies — from undiagnosed thyroid disease, insufficient iodine or chemical exposures — are linked to lower cognitive performance, language delays and attention difficulties years later. Yet national prenatal guidelines rely on risk-based screening, leaving many cases undetected until damage is done.
In Minnesota, the PFAS Blueprint is expanding monitoring statewide. In some east-metro suburbs, private wells have tested above recommended PFAS levels, putting developing babies at risk for neurodevelopmental problems such as ADHD, cognitive impairments, and — according to some studies — autism. Minneapolis city water tested very low in 2024. Thousands of Minneapolis homes still rely on lead service lines, putting infants at risk of subtle but preventable brain and developmental delays; the state plans to replace all lines by 2033, with active replacements underway.
Pesticide drift is monitored by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, which investigates complaints and enforces state and federal rules. But without stronger buffer zones and regular air monitoring near homes and schools, children remain vulnerable to exposure linked in multiple studies to IQ loss and structural brain changes.
Pregnancy health can be strengthened through universal thyroid testing, iodine supplementation, lead pipe replacement, enforceable PFAS limits, pesticide drift monitoring and biomonitoring programs linking exposures to outcomes. These are actionable steps that would save IQ points, prevent learning problems, and reduce the need for costly special education and health care later.
Care should reflect what science has proven, not what fits a headline. Nutrition, hormone sufficiency and chemical safety are the foundations of lifelong development. Protecting children in Minnesota and nationwide requires urgent action on these proven risks — anything less leaves families to face preventable harm alone.
