Volatile Organic Compound Exposure and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are ubiquitous pollutants, and exposure from in utero through childhood may impair neurodevelopment. However, compound-specific risks remain unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined associations between VOC exposure and child neurodevelopmental outcomes. A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and Embase was conducted until August 2025, yielding 1213 records. Quality assessment was performed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale and risk of bias using the ROBINS-E tool. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) were calculated using random-effects models, with heterogeneity evaluated via I2 statistics. Subgroup analyses explored for study design, exposure timing, and country income level. Twenty-eight studies were included in the final analysis. Of the 18 VOCs analyzed, five compounds, propionaldehyde (pooled OR = 1.84; 95% CI 1.19–2.49), styrene (pooled OR = 1.69; 95% CI 1.30–2.21), vinyl chloride (pooled OR = 1.53; 95% CI 1.24–1.89), acrolein (pooled OR = 1.48; 95% CI 1.08–2.04), and trichloroethylene (OR = 1.21; 95% CI 1.04–1.41), demonstrated statistically significant adverse associations with neurodevelopment. Benzene showed borderline significance. Heterogeneity ranged from 0–47%. Subgroup analyses identified significant effect modification for 1,3-butadiene by study design and exposure timing and higher pooled estimates for ethylbenzene in high-income countries.