phenols

Exposure to Phenols During Pregnancy Associated with Changes in Non-nutritive Suck Patterns in Infants, an Early Indicator of Brain Development

Posted on by Jodi Snare

Exposure to phenols—chemicals used in a variety of consumer products and industrial processes that can disrupt hormones—during pregnancy was associated with changes in patterns of infant non-nutritive suck, according to ECHO Cohort research led by Megan Woodbury, PhD and Emily Zimmerman, PhD, CCC-SLP of Northeastern University, and Andréa Aguiar, PhD of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Non-nutritive sucking is a common behavior during infancy where a baby may suck on an object that cannot provide nutrients, such as a pacifier. Non-nutritive sucking is characterized by bursts of sucking separated by pauses to breathe. Researchers can measure the frequency, speed, and strength of non-nutritive sucking. Because sucking is a behavior present from birth that is controlled by neurons in the brainstem, it is an ideal indicator of early brain development.

During the study, researchers measured phenol exposure by analyzing phenol levels in maternal urine samples collected during pregnancy. Non-nutritive sucking was evaluated in 1- to 8-week-old infants using a custom pacifier for approximately 5 minutes.

Key takeaways include:

  • Exposure to Bisphenol F, a common alternative to Bisphenol A or BPA found in some food packaging, was related to a lower non-nutritive suck frequency.
  • Exposure to Triclosan, an antimicrobial chemical found in some soaps, was associated with a higher non-nutritive suck frequency.
  • Exposure to other phenols used as preservatives and industrial processes (propylparaben, 2,4-dichlorophenol, and 2,5-dichlorophenol) was associated with weaker non-nutritive suck.
  • Exposure to some phenols used in sunscreens and industrial processes (benzophenone-3, 2,4-dichlorophenol, and 2,5-dichlorophenol) was related to more non-nutritive suck bursts per minute.
  • Propylparaben, a chemical used in some preservatives, was associated with more non-nutritive sucking per burst.

Previous studies linking changes in non-nutritive suck patterns to other exposures, such as maternal pregnancy stress and prenatal phthalate exposures, have also linked these exposures with decreased cognitive function in infants. The reasons these associations occur in the body are unknown but may be linked to hormone disruption during pregnancy.

“This study provides additional evidence that exposure to phenols may be related to developmental outcomes in children, demonstrating the need for continued research into how exposures during pregnancy impact infant health and development,” said Dr. Woodbury.

This collaborative research, titled “Examining the association between prenatal Phenol exposure and infant non-nutritive suck in two ECHO Cohorts,” was published in Environmental Epidemiology.

ECHO Study Finds Exposure to Phenols During Pregnancy Associated with Changes in Non-Nutritive Suck Patterns in Infants

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ECHO Study Finds Exposure to Phenols During Pregnancy Associated with Changes in Non-Nutritive Suck Patterns in Infants

Authors: Megan Woodbury, Andréa Aguiar, Emily Zimmerman, et al.

 

Who sponsored this study?

The Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program, Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health supported this research.

 

Why was this study needed?

During this study, researchers evaluated the relationship between exposure to phenols—chemicals used in a variety of consumer products and industrial processes that can disrupt hormones—during pregnancy and non-nutritive sucking patterns in infants. Non-nutritive sucking is a common behavior during infancy where a baby may suck on an object that cannot provide nutrients, such as a pacifier. Non-nutritive sucking is characterized by bursts of sucking separated by pauses to breathe. Researchers can measure the frequency, speed, and strength of non-nutritive sucking. Because sucking is a behavior present from birth that is controlled by neurons in the brainstem, it is an ideal indicator of early brain development. Previous studies have indicated that non-nutritive sucking patterns can be affected by environmental exposures during pregnancy. Understanding this relationship could provide insights into how prenatal chemical exposures impact early neurodevelopment.

 

What were the study results?

The study found that phenol exposure during pregnancy was linked to changes in non-nutritive suck patterns in infants. Specifically, exposure to Bisphenol F, a common alternative to Bisephenol A or BPA found in some food packaging, was related to a lower non-nutritive suck frequency. Alternatively, exposure to Triclosan, an antimicrobial chemical found in some soaps, was associated with a higher non-nutritive suck frequency. Exposure to other phenols used as preservatives and industrial processes (propylparaben, 2,4-dichlorophenol, and 2,5-dichlorophenol) was associated with weaker non-nutritive suck. Exposure to some phenols used in sunscreens and industrial processes (benzophenone-3, 2,4-dichlorophenol, and 2,5-dichlorophenol) were related to more non-nutritive suck bursts per minute. Propylparaben, a chemical used in some preservatives, was associated with more non-nutritive sucking per burst.

 

What was this study's impact?

This study provides additional evidence that exposure to phenols may affect early brain development. Continued research into the effects of pregnancy exposures on infant health and development can help inform strategies for reducing potentially harmful exposures.

 

Who was involved?

The study included 215 mother-infant pairs from two ECHO Cohort study sites: the Illinois Kids Development Study (IKIDS) and ECHO in Puerto Rico (ECHO-PROTECT).

 

What happened during the study?

During the study, researchers measured phenol exposure by analyzing phenol levels in maternal urine samples collected during pregnancy. Non-nutritive sucking was evaluated in 1- to 8-week-old infants using a custom pacifier for approximately 5 minutes. Statistical methods were used to investigate how exposure to 11 different phenols and triclocarban—another chemical used as an antibacterial agent in some soaps—affected non-nutritive suck, adjusting for factors like study site, child sex and assessment age, and maternal age and education.

Footnote: Results reported here are for a single study. Other or future studies may provide new information or different results. You should not make changes to your health without first consulting your healthcare professional.

 

What happens next?

Future studies could help clarify why non-nutritive suck patterns change in response to certain pregnancy exposures and how these changes might affect the baby's brain development as they grow.

 

Where can I learn more?

Access the full journal article, titled “Examining the association between prenatal Phenol exposure and infant non-nutritive suck in two ECHO Cohorts,” in Environmental Epidemiology.

 

The content is the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

Published August 2025

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ECHO Study Finds Exposure to Phenols During Pregnancy Associated with Changes in Non-Nutritive Suck Patterns in Infants

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Pre-, Peri-, and Postnatal

Prenatal Exposure to Phenols and Parabens Appear to Be Higher Among Minority Populations, ECHO Study Finds

Posted on by Jodi Snare

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.

###

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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Prenatal Exposure to Phenols and Parabens Higher Among Minority Populations, ECHO Study Finds

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Prenatal Exposure to Phenols and Parabens Higher Among Minority Populations, ECHO Study Finds

Authors: Michael S. Bloom, Adaeze Wosu Nzegwu, et al.

 

Who sponsored this study?

The Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program, National Institutes of Health supported this research.

 

Why was this study needed?

Exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), such as environmental phenols (EPs) and parabens, is common during pregnancy through everyday products like plastics, food packaging, and personal care items. These chemicals can cross the placenta and, despite their short breakdown time in the body, EPs are often detected in human tissue. Prenatal exposure has been linked to risks such as pregnancy complications, developmental issues, and long-term health problems, particularly in underserved populations. Low-income and minority communities may face higher exposure to chemicals like EPs due to closer proximity to factories and waste facilities, as well as limited access to a broader range of consumer products and fresh foods. This study investigated racial and ethnic differences in prenatal exposure to EPs and parabens across the U.S., addressing the limitations of earlier, smaller studies that did not fully explore these differences among pregnant women.

 

 

What were the study results?

Urinary levels of most EPs examined varied significantly by race and ethnicity, with non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic participants having higher levels of certain EPs than non-Hispanic White participants. Specifically, non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic participants had higher average levels of a chemical that comes from paradichlorobenzene in their urine compared to non-Hispanic White participants. Paradichlorobenzene is found in mothballs, fumigants, and air fresheners, and it is mainly inhaled. Non-Hispanic Black participants also had higher levels of specific parabens, which are preservatives used in processed foods and personal care products. These chemicals can be absorbed through eating or using such products.

 

What was this study's impact?

The study highlighted the disproportionately high levels of exposure to EPs among pregnant racial and ethnic minorities in the U.S.

 

Who was involved?

The study included 4,006 pregnant participants from 11 ECHO Cohort Study Sites across the U.S., representing various racial/ethnic identities, including Hispanic, non-Hispanic Black, non-Hispanic Other, and non-Hispanic White individuals.

 

What happened during the study?

The study analyzed 7,854 urine specimens collected during pregnancy. Researchers measured the levels of 10 different urinary EPs.

Footnote: Results reported here are for a single study. Other or future studies may provide new information or different results. You should not make changes to your health without first consulting your healthcare professional.

 

What happens next?

Further studies could examine the sources of these exposure differences.

 

Where can I learn more?

Access the full journal article, titled “Racial and ethnic differences in prenatal exposure to environmental phenols and parabens in the ECHO Cohort,” in the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology.

 

The content is the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

Published February 15, 2025

 

Access the associated press release.

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Prenatal Exposure to Phenols and Parabens Higher Among Minority Populations, ECHO Study Finds