Objective To comprehensively analyze scientific literature on the impact of prenatal environmental chemical exposure on offspring health for an understanding of the research trends, hotspots, and knowledge structures as well as potential directions in this field, and to provide robust support for scientific research and clinical practice.

Methods Relevant literature was collected from the Web of Science Core Collection for visual analyses of publication volume, country and institution collaboration, authors, and keywords using CiteSpace software and the Bibliometrix R package.

Results A total of 3 191 relevant articles were identified, showing an exponential growth trend in publication volume from 1994 to 2024. The United States has made significant contributions in the field, with the University of California system and Harvard University being the top two institutions in terms of publication volume. The keyword clustering analysis revealed five key research areas: industrial materials, air pollution, developmental toxicity, neurodevelopment, and pathogenic mechanisms. The keyword burst analysis indicated a shifting research trend from single-chemical risk assessment to chemical mixture risk assessment, with a focus on specific chemicals such as perfluorinated compounds and parabens. Metabolomics, pediatric neurodevelopment, and integrated assessment of environmental exposure are emerging as new research frontiers.

Conclusion Prenatal environmental chemical exposure significantly impacts offspring health, particularly in neurodevelopment, growth and metabolism, and reproductive health. Future research should strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration to explore combined exposure to multiple substances, individual susceptibility, and epigenetic mechanisms, and focus on the spatiotemporal characteristics and dose-response relationships of chemical exposure. Additionally, research on environmental management and public health intervention strategies should be enhanced to mitigate the negative impact of environmental pollution on offspring health.