Toxic Environment of war: Maternal prenatal heavy metal load predicts infant emotional development

•In utero heavy metal contamination, related with new weapon military operations in Gaza, was measured from maternal hair samples at childbirth.•Two weapon-related heavy metals, chromium and uranium, adversely predicted infant emotional development.•Children of mothers with and without trauma-related psychological symptoms were similarly affected by the prenatal heavy metal contamination.•Adverse impact of war is not limited to those who experience it directly, but is passed on to future generations through multiple mechanisms.