Widespread Hormone-Disrupting Chemical Exposure Detected in Pregnant Women

Scientists from Rutgers University and the University of Rochester discovered ZEN or its byproducts in 97% of urine samples from pregnant women and 84% of placentas analyzed.

ZEN is classified as a mycoestrogen, a compound resembling estrogen that is generated by specific molds contaminating grains, meats, and processed foods worldwide. It is predominantly found in cereals such as corn, wheat, and barley. While its effects on animals are well-documented, there is limited knowledge regarding its implications for human health.

“We are just beginning our exploration of how these substances impact human health at various developmental stages,” expressed Zorimar Rivera-Núñez, an assistant professor at Rutgers School of Public Health and the senior author of the study.

Structurally, ZEN closely resembles the hormone 17β-estradiol, allowing it to interact with estrogen receptors. High doses of ZEN can lead to a decrease in both the quantity and size of offspring in species such as cattle, pigs, mice, and rats. Interestingly, these compounds also stimulate postnatal growth in livestock, prompting American farmers to frequently administer a synthetic variant of ZEN to cattle.

To assess exposure during pregnancy, the researchers collected urine samples from 317 women in Rochester, New York, alongside 271 placenta samples and inquired about their lifestyle and eating habits.

The analysis revealed that women who had higher body mass indexes and those with prior childbirth generally had greater ZEN levels in their urine.

Moreover, diet played a significant role in exposure levels. Participants with healthier diets, particularly those rich in protein and vegetables, exhibited lower ZEN levels. In contrast, diets containing a higher proportion of ultra-processed foods were linked to elevated ZEN concentrations.

“An increase of 1% in ultra-processed food consumption correlated with greater mycoestrogen exposure,” noted Carolyn Kinkade, the lead author who focused on zearalenone in her PhD research at Rutgers School of Graduate Studies Exposure Science program.

This study surfaces amid growing worries about environmental chemicals that disrupt hormonal functions. Unlike many other such chemicals, ZEN has long been present in our food supplies, but exposure may be escalating due to contemporary food production practices and climate change.

“This is related to exposure from climate change,” Rivera-Núñez explained. “Current mycotoxin research predicts that the concentration of these substances will rise as temperatures increase and weather patterns fluctuate.”

Some laboratory studies suggest ZEN might be more potent than other recognized endocrine disruptors like BPA or phthalates. Nevertheless, its health consequences in humans are still not fully understood. Earlier investigations by the same team indicated links between ZEN exposure and changes in sex hormone levels among pregnant women and in umbilical cord blood.

The researchers continue to explore potential health effects. Future studies will focus on relationships with pregnancy-related weight gain, placental growth, and child development.

“In the future, we hope to broaden our research to monitor children’s health up until puberty,” stated Rivera-Núñez.

For the time being, the study’s conclusions may serve as an additional incentive for maintaining a healthy diet during pregnancy, although the researchers acknowledged that due to the widespread occurrence of ZEN in foods, it is essential to establish regulations to manage the presence of mycoestrogens in the food supply to minimize exposure at the population level.

“Individuals looking to lessen their exposure can achieve this by decreasing their overall intake of ultra-processed foods,” Kinkade advised.