Yolton Research Lab

The HOME Study

The Yolton Lab is home to the Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment (HOME) Study involving a collaborative group of investigators from Cincinnati Children’s and other institutions who seek to quantify the impact of low-level prenatal and childhood exposures to environmental chemicals on health, growth and neurobehavioral outcomes.

The HOME Study has followed its participants from approximately 16 weeks' gestation and completed the Phase 4, with follow-up at age 12 years, in April 2019. A new phase will begin spring 2021, with follow-up at age 18 years. A new phase of the study began spring 2021, with follow-up at age 18 years.

Global Impact

The HOME Study Has Impacted National Policy

In addition to raising community awareness, information collected from the HOME Study has policy implications for many public health organizations such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the World Health Organization (WHO). For example, WHO used HOME Study results to consider implementing regulations of industrial bisphenol A levels. In addition, the success of the lead hazard interventions conducted within the study has impacted the “levels of concern” established by the EPA for lead in private residences.