Researchers from Rutgers University and the University of Rochester have uncovered alarming levels of zearalenone (ZEN), a mycoestrogen produced by mold, in the urine of 97% of pregnant women and 84% of placentas tested.
ZEN, commonly found in grains, meats, and processed foods, mimics estrogen in the body and has been linked to reproductive issues in animals.
However, its effects on human health, particularly during pregnancy, remain largely unknown.
“We’re just at the beginnings of studying how these compounds affect human bodies in all stages of development,” noted Zorimar Rivera-Núñez, an assistant professor at the Rutgers School of Public Health and the study’s senior author.
The research involved urine samples from 317 pregnant women in Rochester, New York, along with 271 placenta samples.
The team found that higher body mass indexes and previous births were correlated with increased ZEN levels.
Researchers warn ZEN exposure may rise with climate change, stressing healthy diets during pregnancy.Notably, diet played a significant role; women consuming healthier diets rich in protein and vegetables showed lower ZEN concentrations, while those with higher intakes of ultra-processed foods experienced increased exposure.
“For every 1 percent higher ultra-processed food consumption, there was a higher exposure to mycoestrogen,” explained Carolyn Kinkade, lead author and PhD candidate in the Rutgers School of Graduate Studies Exposure Science program.
The findings arrive amidst growing concerns about endocrine-disrupting chemicals, with ZEN exposure potentially increasing due to modern agricultural practices and climate change.
Rivera-Núñez emphasized, “Current mycotoxin data predict that the levels of these chemicals will increase as we get warmer temperatures and weather.”
The researchers plan to continue their investigation into ZEN’s health impacts, focusing on pregnancy weight gain, placental development, and child growth.
They stress the importance of a healthy diet during pregnancy and suggest that reducing ultra-processed food consumption can help mitigate exposure.
As the study highlights, addressing the prevalence of mycoestrogens like ZEN in our food supply may require regulatory measures to protect public health.