Pregnant women in Hispanic and Black communities may experience greater prenatal exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), including environmental phenols (EPs) and parabens, according to a study funded by the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Cohort at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
EDCs are commonly encountered during pregnancy through everyday items such as plastics, food packaging, and personal care products. Although these products break down quickly in the body, EDCs can cross the placenta and accumulate in fetal tissue. Prenatal exposure has been linked to pregnancy complications, developmental challenges, and long-term health risks.
The findings revealed significant differences in chemical exposure levels based on race and ethnicity. Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic participants had higher levels of certain EPs compared to non-Hispanic White participants. For example, non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic participants showed elevated levels of paradichlorobenzene—a chemical found in mothballs, fumigants, and air fresheners. Non-Hispanic Black participants also had higher levels of parabens, commonly used as preservatives in processed foods and personal care items.
“These findings indicate that pregnant individuals from different racial and ethnic backgrounds experience varying levels of exposure to potentially harmful chemicals,” said Michael S. Bloom, PhD, of George Mason University. “Understanding these differences is crucial for evaluating their effects on maternal and fetal health and identifying the underlying causes can inform effective interventions.”
Researchers analyzed urine samples from 4,006 pregnant participants across 11 ECHO Cohort Study Sites, representing Hispanic, non-Hispanic Black, non-Hispanic Other, and non-Hispanic White individuals.
Low-income and minority communities may face heightened exposure due to factors like proximity to industrial facilities and limited access to a broad range of consumer products and fresh foods, researchers noted in the study.
This collaborative research was published in the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology.
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Bloom, M.S., Upadhyaya, S., Nzegwu, A.W. et al. Racial and ethnic differences in prenatal exposure to environmental phenols and parabens in the ECHO Cohort. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-025-00750-w
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