title: Our once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
abstract: Longitudinal studies of the determinants of children's health are complex, costly, infrequent, and incredibly valuable. It has become clear in recent years that the periconceptional environment plays a surprisingly large role in the health of the resulting child. This short introduction to this mini-monograph briefly recaps the articles included herein and reminds us that adequate forethought and planning will result in a study that could shed new light on the earliest determinants of children's health and thereby fill critical data gaps.
authors.affiliation: Reproductive and Developmental Toxicology Group, Pfizer Global Research and Development, Safety Sciences, Eastern Point Road, MS 8274-1336, Groton, CT 06340, USA. robert_e_chapin@groton.pfizer.com
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Chapin
authors.forename: Germaine M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Buck
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000506:poisoning*; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D012107:Research Design
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants