Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42362911›Full record

ArticleJournal of exposure science & environmental epidemiology2026

Diet and mycoestrogen exposure in a pregnancy cohort: the Jersey Babies pilot study.

Zorimar Rivera-Núñez, Carolyn W Kinkade, Alyssa Juenke, Megan Hansel, Daniel Heltberg, Aditi Sharada, Shabree Anthony, Anita Brinker, Jessica Fields, Todd Rosen and 4 more

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Article in Journal of exposure science & environmental epidemiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Zorimar Rivera-NúñezDepartment of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, NJ, USA. zorimar.nunez@rutgers.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0718-1807
Carolyn W KinkadeDepartment of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, NJ, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8549-5553
Alyssa JuenkeEnvironmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
Megan HanselDepartment of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
Daniel HeltbergEnvironmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
Aditi SharadaDepartment of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
Shabree AnthonyEnvironmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
Anita BrinkerEnvironmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
Jessica FieldsDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
Todd RosenDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
Kristy PalomaresDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Peter's University Hospital, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
Brian BuckleyEnvironmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7336-4321
Lauren M AleksunesEnvironmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
Emily S BarrettDepartment of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, NJ, USA.

Funding

Translational Research Support CoreP30ES005022 · NIEHS · UNIV OF MED/DENT NJ-R W JOHNSON MED SCH · PI BRIAN T BUCKLEY · 1988 to 2026
$47.4M
TRAINING IN EVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGYT32ES007148 · NIEHS · RUTGERS THE ST UNIV OF NJ NEW BRUNSWICK · PI Lauren M Aleksunes · 1987 to 2026
$11.4M
Mycoestrogens and maternal-child health in the TIDES cohortR01ES037903 · NIEHS · RUTGERS BIOMEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES · PI BARRETT, EMILY S, RIVERA-NUNEZ, ZORIMAR · 2025 to 2025
$2.8M
NIEHS NIH HHS P30 ES005022NIEHS NIH HHS R01 ES037903NIEHS NIH HHS T32 ES007148
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundZearalenone (ZEN) is a grain-contaminating mycotoxin and potent estrogen receptor agonist linked to reproductive and perinatal disruption in animal models, with emerging epidemiologic evidence in humans. Despite widespread U.S. exposure, dietary sources remain unclear.

objectiveThis pilot study assessed prenatal mycoestrogen exposure and related dietary sources in a U.S. pregnant cohort.

methodsPregnant women (n = 33) recruited in New Brunswick, NJ provided urine samples and completed time-matched 24-h dietary recalls at three points across pregnancy (Visit 1: 18-20 weeks; Visit 2: 24-26 weeks and Visit 3: 28-32 weeks gestation). Urinary mycoestrogens were quantified using LC/MSMS and corrected for specific gravity.

resultsAt least one ZEN metabolite was detected in every sample (Visit, median: 1: 0.058 ng/mg; 2: 0.042 ng/mg; 3: 0.055 ng/mg), and intraclass correlation coefficients among detected metabolites ranged from 0.62 to 0.95. Across visits, Hispanic participants (39%) had 52-109% higher mycoestrogen concentrations compared to non-Hispanic participants (p < 0.05). Consumption of corn and other grain products within the past 24 h was strongly correlated with urinary concentrations of ZEN and its metabolites (r: 0.30-0.92; p < 0.05), with weaker positive correlations observed for oils and popcorn. SIGNIFICANCE: Given robust toxicologic evidence and emerging epidemiologic findings suggesting adverse maternal and child health impacts, identifying key exposure pathways is critical. IMPACT: This pilot study identifies corn and cereal-based foods as key contributors to ZEN prenatal exposure and highlights higher concentrations among Hispanic participants. By clarifying exposure pathways, these findings support improved food-safety monitoring and targeted strategies to reduce endocrine-disrupting chemical exposures during pregnancy.

Indexed as

BiomonitoringDietary exposureMycoestrogenMycotoxinPregnancyZearalenone

Identifiers

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.