# The effect of phenol exposure on reproductive function and the urinary metabolome

> **NIH NIH F31** · YALE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $45,520

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Phenols are chemicals found in numerous everyday items ranging from personal care products to food
packaging materials. Exposure is widespread, with detectable urinary levels in populations worldwide. Studies
have shown that phenols can act as endocrine disruptors, with estrogenic, antiestrogenic, and antiandrogenic
effects. They also impact drug metabolizing enzymes which mediate the body’s detoxification processes, and
hormone metabolism and bioavailability underlying normal reproductive function. Despite plausible
mechanisms by which phenols could impact female reproductive function, there are inconsistent results across
the limited epidemiologic studies examining the reproductive effects of phenol exposure. In part, this is
because phenols are rapidly metabolized and excreted, making exposure assessment challenging. To
accurately characterize phenol exposure, repeated measures are necessary, but most studies to-date use a
single measure. This proposal leverages questionnaire and diary data, along with repeated daily urine
samples, from a prospective cohort of 221 women attempting pregnancy, the Early Pregnancy Study. It aims to
examine the relationship between exposure to five phenols (benzophenone-3, methyl paraben, propyl paraben,
2,4-dichlorophenol, and 2,5-dichlorophenol) and a range of reproductive function indicators, and to investigate
potential phenol-associated changes in drug metabolizing enzymes, and hence hormone metabolism, through
assessment of the urinary metabolome. Aim 1 evaluates whether concentrations of phenols are associated
with reproductive function. We will quantify the associations between phenol levels and time to pregnancy, risk
of early pregnancy loss, follicular phase length, and hormone levels. In Aim 2, we investigate potential
pathways by which phenols may have endocrine disrupting effects and alter the urinary metabolome using
both targeted and untargeted metabolomics approaches. By integrating preconception epidemiologic,
biomarker, and metabolomics data with fertility outcomes, this study will offer an exposome-level view into how
reproductive function may be affected by environmental exposures. Because infertility is a growing public
health concern with major physical, emotional, and financial consequences, the identification of reproductive
toxicants is urgently needed. If phenols contribute to decreased fertility, then minimizing the preconception use
of common phenol-containing consumer products could have substantial public health benefits. Completion of
this two-year research and training fellowship will provide the applicant with the opportunity to develop
advanced data analysis and interpretation skills in both metabolomics and epidemiology. During this fellowship,
a multi-disciplinary team of mentors at the Yale School of Public Health and NIEHS will work with the applicant
towards her long-term goal of conducting scientific research in reproductive and environmental health,...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9906571
- **Project number:** 1F31ES030594-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** YALE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Ana Katherine Rosen Vollmar
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $45,520
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-06-01 → 2022-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9906571

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9906571, The effect of phenol exposure on reproductive function and the urinary metabolome (1F31ES030594-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9906571. Licensed CC0.

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