Zeyan Liew, PhD, MPH
Associate Professor of Epidemiology (Environmental Health Sciences)DownloadHi-Res Photo
Cards
Contact Info
About
Copy Link
Titles
Associate Professor of Epidemiology (Environmental Health Sciences)
Biography
Dr. Liew is an environmental and perinatal epidemiologist and a research methodologist. A core focus of his work is understanding how exposures that occur during critical and vulnerable periods of development may shape disease risks and influence health outcomes throughout our life span. Dr. Liew is leading numerous studies with funding from the NIH to evaluate whether fetal exposures to endocrine disrupting compounds and/or neurotoxicants could harm fetal brain development leading to neurological disorders or impaired neuropsychological function in childhood and young adulthood. He is also interested in methodological research, especially the development of novel study designs and analytical techniques that could help us better address biases in observational studies or research using “real-world” data.
Last Updated on April 08, 2025.
Appointments
Environmental Health Sciences
Associate Professor on TermPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
- All Institutions
- Center for Brain & Mind Health
- Environmental Health Sciences
- Janeway Society
- Wu Tsai Institute
- Yale School of Public Health
- Yale Superfund Research Center
Education & Training
- Visiting Postdoc
- Aarhus University (2018)
- Visiting Scientist
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (2016)
- PhD
- University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Epidemiology (2014)
- MPH
- University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Environmental Health Sciences (2011)
Research
Copy Link
Overview
Medical Research Interests
Acetaminophen; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Causality; Cerebral Palsy; Child Development; Endocrine Disruptors; Environmental Pollutants; Epilepsy; Models, Statistical; Pediatric Obesity; Pharmacoepidemiology; Pregnancy
Public Health Interests
Global Health; Maternal & Child Health; Epidemiology Methods; Environmental Health; Child/Adolescent Health; Perinatal/Prenatal Health; Pharmacoepidemiology
ORCID
0000-0002-9424-7869- View Lab Website
The Liew Lab - Environmental and Early Life Epidemiology
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of Zeyan Liew's published research.
Publications Timeline
A big-picture view of Zeyan Liew's research output by year.
Research Interests
Research topics Zeyan Liew is interested in exploring.
Haoran Zhuo
Jingyuan Xiao, MPH, BS, BA
Joshua Warren, PhD
Nicole Deziel, PhD, MHS
Tormod Rogne, MD, PhD
Krystal Pollitt, PhD, P.Eng.
92Publications
1,993Citations
Pregnancy
Environmental Pollutants
Cerebral Palsy
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Acetaminophen
Publications
2026
Ambient air pollution during pregnancy and offspring cerebral palsy
Zhuo H, Ritz B, Su J, Nianogo R, Warren J, Liew Z. Ambient air pollution during pregnancy and offspring cerebral palsy. Environment International 2026, 210: 110201. PMID: 41875667, DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2026.110201.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNegative control exposureCerebral palsyAmbient air pollutionAssociated with CPPrenatal exposure to fine particulate matterPopulation-based case-control studyConfounding biasLower PM2.5California Department of Developmental ServicesAssociated with higher oddsAmbient NO2Department of Developmental ServicesRandom sampleExposure to fine particulate matterSample of live birthsCase-control studyCP subtypeHigher oddsCalifornia DepartmentAir pollutionNeuromotor disordersSingle-pollutantDevelopmental servicesCP casesLive birthsPer- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and miscarriage: The Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort study
Grindstad T, Magnus M, Di Nallo A, Ramlau-Hansen C, Liew Z, Hanevik H, Haug L, Andersen G, Rogne T, Papadopoulou E, Magnus P, Håberg S, Caspersen I. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and miscarriage: The Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort study. Environmental Research 2026, 298: 124276. PMID: 41833875, DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2026.124276.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsChild Cohort StudyAssociated with miscarriageSingle-pollutant modelsLogistic regression modelsInfluence of parityNorwegian MotherNulliparous womenPFAS mixtureChild birthBirth yearG-computationQuantile-based g-computationCohort studyPlasma concentrationsSub-studyPregnant womenMoBaRegression modelsWomenEnrollmentAssociationJoint effectsPolyfluoroalkyl substances concentrationsPregnancyMiscarriageEvaluating 1,4-Dioxane Exposure in Long Island, New York: Integrating Environmental, Biological, and Metabolomic Measures
Deziel N, Liu S, Johnson N, Berardi D, Clark C, Loughlin C, Sorrentino K, Lin E, Ning X, Warren J, Liew Z, Johnson C, Pollitt K. Evaluating 1,4-Dioxane Exposure in Long Island, New York: Integrating Environmental, Biological, and Metabolomic Measures. Environmental Science And Technology 2026, 60: 9048-9060. PMID: 41824932, DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5c15309.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsMaximum contaminant levelPotential health burdenPersonal care productsBlood samplesDrinking water concentrationsExposure determinantsLong IslandTap waterContamination levelsPaired waterExposure sourcesCare productsWater samplesPersonal care product useWater concentrationTreatment systemResidents of Long IslandMetabolomic profilesMetabolomic impactMetabolomic measurementsMetabolomic analysisWaterWater consumptionExposure dataPotential carcinogensMaternal Acetaminophen Use and Child Neurodevelopment
Lee P, Chuang Y, Hu Y, Lin C, Li C, Chen Y, Heck J, Bellia G, Zhuo H, Arah O, Liew Z. Maternal Acetaminophen Use and Child Neurodevelopment. JAMA Pediatrics 2026, 180 PMID: 41801232, PMCID: PMC12973218, DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2026.0071.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsNational Health Insurance Research DatabaseOffspring attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorderSibling-matched analysisPrescription of acetaminophenAcetaminophen useSingleton birthsAcetaminophen prescriptionsAttention-deficit/hyperactivity disorderAssociated with offspring neurodevelopmentCohort studyPrenatal exposure to acetaminophenMaternal usePositive associationHealth Insurance Research DatabaseBidirectional analysisDiagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorderMain OutcomesSibling designExposure to acetaminophenSources of biasResearch DatabasePrimary outcomeAutism spectrum disorderConfounding factorsPrescriptionBidirectional Associations Between Screen Time and Irritability in Preadolescence: A Temporal Network Analysis.
Zhang L, Bellaert N, Zhuo H, Liew Z, Tseng W. Bidirectional Associations Between Screen Time and Irritability in Preadolescence: A Temporal Network Analysis. Journal Of Child And Adolescent Psychopharmacology 2026, 10445463251415497. PMID: 41700679, DOI: 10.1177/10445463251415497.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsScreen timeBidirectional associationsModifiable risk factorsImpact of screen useFollow-upAssociated with timeRisk factorsTemporal network analysisGaussian graphical modelsVideo streamingSocial mediaAdolescent brainScreen useTV watchingPotential negative impactEmotion dysregulationIrritationAssociated with subsequent increasesDepressive symptomsGraphical modelsTemporal networksSymptomsAdolescents' motivationWatching TVParent-rated Child Behavior ChecklistMaternal pre-pregnancy body mass index, gestational weight gain and epilepsy in the offspring: A population-based cohort study
Chen J, Zhuo H, Rogne T, Liew Z. Maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index, gestational weight gain and epilepsy in the offspring: A population-based cohort study. Epilepsy Research 2026, 222: 107760. PMID: 41762485, PMCID: PMC13012189, DOI: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2026.107760.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMaternal pre-pregnancy overweightMaternal pre-pregnancy body mass indexGestational weight gainPre-pregnancy body mass indexPre-pregnancy overweightExcessive gestational weight gainBody mass indexGestational weight lossAssociated with higher riskTerm birthsPopulation-based cohort studyInstitute of Medicine standardsCalifornia Department of Developmental ServicesMass indexRisk ratioConfidence intervalsChildhood epilepsyDepartment of Developmental ServicesCalifornia birth recordsRisk of childhood epilepsyAssociated with childhood epilepsyWeight gainOverweight mothersBirth recordsWeight lossPrenatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and risk of autism spectrum disorder in the California Central Valley, 2004–2010
Osborne K, Liew Z, Cui X, Walker D, Jones D, Lin Y, O’Sharkey K, Heck J, Paul K, Ritz B. Prenatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and risk of autism spectrum disorder in the California Central Valley, 2004–2010. Environmental Epidemiology 2026, 10: e464. PMID: 41696656, PMCID: PMC12900219, DOI: 10.1097/ee9.0000000000000464.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsAdjusted odds ratiosLow educational levelEducation levelElevated adjusted odds ratiosConfidence intervalsExposure-outcome relationshipsCubic spline regressionHigher education levelChildren of mothersAutism spectrum disorderPrenatal exposure to perfluorooctanoic acidQuantile-based g-computation approachRisk of autism spectrum disorderPFAS mixtureModified associationsBirth yearExposure quartilesLowest quartileOdds ratioAssociated with autism spectrum disorderPolyfluoroalkyl substancesPerfluorooctane sulfonateFeasibility and acceptability of daily oral emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (FTC/TAF) for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis among people who inject drugs with opioid use disorder
Gautam K, Paudel K, Wickersham J, Altice F, Bellia G, Jadkarim L, Liew Z, Khati A, Copenhaver M, Shrestha R. Feasibility and acceptability of daily oral emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (FTC/TAF) for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis among people who inject drugs with opioid use disorder. Sexually Transmitted Infections 2026, sextrans-2025-056770. PMID: 41667236, DOI: 10.1136/sextrans-2025-056770.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsFollow-up visitOpioid use disorderHIV pre-exposure prophylaxisPre-exposure prophylaxisSelf-reported adherenceInjected drugsUse disorderSide effectsOpen-label observational studyHIV seroconversionFTC/TAFSingle-armPrEP useCondomless sexObservational studyHIVSelf-ReportHIV preventionPrEPMonthsTime pointsNon-HispanicProphylaxisOpioidExit interviewsRisk of major congenital malformations and heart defects in pregnancies exposed to first-trimester drugs for depression and co-medications.
Østergaard Thunbo M, Vendelbo J, Kolding L, Larsen A, Witte D, Liew Z, Pedersen L. Risk of major congenital malformations and heart defects in pregnancies exposed to first-trimester drugs for depression and co-medications. Journal Of Psychopharmacology 2026, 2698811251413500. PMID: 41622509, DOI: 10.1177/02698811251413500.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsCongenital heart defectsCo-MedicationHeart defectsCongenital malformationsNonexposed pregnanciesCongenital heart defect occurrenceCongenital heart defect riskMCM riskFetal safetyTeratogenic riskDanish national registry dataNational registry dataPregnancyMaternal healthPotential associationRegistry dataDrugMalformationsRiskDepressionMedicationHigh ambient temperature during pregnancy and offspring cerebral palsy: A population-based case-control study in California
Zhuo H, Warren J, Bellia G, Wang P, Chen K, Liew Z, Rogne T. High ambient temperature during pregnancy and offspring cerebral palsy: A population-based case-control study in California. Environmental Research 2026, 293: 123757. PMID: 41534582, PMCID: PMC12883187, DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2026.123757.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsCerebral palsyCase-control studySibling AnalysisPopulation-based case-control studyCP casesMaternal residential addressCP riskNested Case-Control StudyRisk of CPGestational weeks 0Associated with CP riskResidential addressesUncontrolled confoundingStatewide systemNeuromotor disordersStrong associationsStudy populationChildhood CPEarly-pregnancyChildhood neurodevelopmental disordersPalsyPrenatal exposureDevelopmental disabilitiesRiskBirth
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
Copy Link
Activities
activity Society for Epidemiologic Research (SER)
2013 - PresentProfessional OrganizationsMemberactivity International Society for Environmental Epidemiology (ISEE)
2013 - PresentProfessional OrganizationsMemberactivity Society for Pediatric and Perinatal Epidemiologic Research
2015 - PresentProfessional OrganizationsMemberactivity American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine
2020 - PresentProfessional OrganizationsMemberactivity International Society for Autism Research
2016 - 2019Professional OrganizationsMember
Honors
honor Early Career Investigator Research Award
05/22/2024Yale University AwardYale School of Public Healthhonor NIH Research Project Grant Program (R01)
05/15/2024National AwardNational Institute of Environmental Health Scienceshonor Pilot Grant in Climate Change and Health
05/01/2024Yale University AwardYale Center on Climate Change and Healthhonor NIH Research Project Grant Program (R01)
09/15/2023National AwardEunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Developmenthonor Planetary Solutions Project seed grant
06/01/2023Yale University AwardYALE PLANETARY SOLUTIONS PROJECT
News & Links
Copy Link
News
- March 10, 2026Source: Everyday Health
Review of 2 million births finds no clear link between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism or ADHD
- January 21, 2026Source: Nature
Is acetaminophen use in pregnancy a risk factor for ADHD?
- December 28, 2025Source: The Washington Post
New science points to 4 distinct types of autism
- September 23, 2025
What the research says about autism and acetaminophen use during pregnancy
Get In Touch
Copy Link
Contacts
Email
Academic Office Number
Secondary Academic Office Number
Office Fax Number
Locations
Yale Center for Perinatal, Pediatric and Environmental Epidemiology (CPPEE)
Academic Office
1 Church Street
New Haven, CT 06510