pregnancy : One toxic exposure in pregnancy linked to disease risk across 20 generations , shocking rat study finds

economictimes.indiatimes.com · Feb 22, 2026 · Collected from GDELT

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A single encounter with a toxic fungicide in pregnancy may elevate disease risk susceptibility for up to 20 subsequent generations, with inherited health challenges becoming intensifying several generations later. That is the remarkable finding of recent research from Washington State University (WSU), featuring long-term impacts of toxic exposure and epigenetic inheritance.The study, recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, analyzed how environmental toxins can trigger biological shifts that persist via reproductive cells. The research was co-authored by WSU biologist Michael Skinner, who has spent two decades examining what scientists call “epigenetic transgenerational inheritance” of illness.How Toxic Exposure Becomes InheritedIn contrast to genetic mutations, epigenetic changes do not change DNA sequences. Instead, they modify how genes operate. These shifts can happen in sperm and egg cells — called collectively as the germline — enabling illness susceptibility transfer across for generations.Skinner initially detected epigenetic inheritance of disease in 2005. Since then, several studies have indicated that inherited disease rates can sometimes surpass those triggered by direct toxin exposure.“Essentially, when a gestating female is exposed, the fetus is exposed,” he stated. “And then the germline inside the fetus is also exposed. From that exposure, the offspring will have potential effects of the exposure, and the grand offspring, and it keeps going. Once it's programmed in the germline, it's as stable as a genetic mutation.”From 10 Generations to 20In previous work, Skinner’s team analyzed 10 generations of rats exposed to vinclozolin, a fungicide generally employed on fruit crops to combat mold and rot. Disease prevalence continued to increase across those generations.The new research doubled the timeline to 20 generations. Scientists detected persistent disease in organs that includes the kidneys, prostate, testes, and ovaries. More concerning, concerns elevated in later generations, mainly during childbirth.“The presence of disease was pretty much staying the same, but around the 15th generation, what we started to see was an increased disease situation,” Skinner cited. “By the 16th, 17th, 18th generations, disease became very prominent and we started to see abnormalities during the birth process. Either the mother would die, or all the pups would die, so it was a really lethal sort of pathology.”Notably, the toxin dosage employed in the experiment was conservatively scaled — below levels that an average individual might consume via diet.What This Means for Rising Human Disease RatesThe results carry major implications for understanding contemporary chronic disease trends. According to U.S. health data, over three-quarters of Americans live with at least one chronic disease like heart disease, cancer, or arthritis.Skinner indicates some of today’s cancer cases and other chronic conditions could be rooted in environmental exposures faced by ancestors years ago.“This study really does say that this is not going to go away,” said Skinner, a professor in the School of Biological Sciences and founding director of the Center for Reproductive Biology. “We need to do something about it. We can use epigenetics to move us away from reactionary medicine and toward preventative medicine.”The intensification in pesticide and fungicide utilized in agriculture parallels the rise in chronic disease, making environmental exposure a major area of concern.Epigenetic Biomarkers: A Path to Preventative MedicineAlthough 20 generations of rats feature only a few years, the equivalent span in humans could extend approximately 500 years. That long gap between cause and impact makes intervention concerning.However, epigenetic research has discovered measurable biomarkers that can forecast illness susceptibility long before symptoms happen.“In humans, we've actually got epigenetic biomarkers for about 10 different disease susceptibilities,” he stated. “It doesn't say you have the disease now, it says 20 years from now, you're potentially going to get this disease. There's a whole series of preventative medicine approaches that can be taken before the disease develops to delay or prevent the disease from happening.”These biomarkers may help change healthcare from reactive treatment to proactive prevention, providing hope in addressing the lasting challenges of toxic exposure.FAQsQ1. What is the main focus of this study? The study analyzes how toxic exposure during pregnancy can impact future generations. It particularly looks at inherited disease challenges through epigenetic changes.Q2. How many generations were studied? Researchers observed 20 generations of laboratory rats. This enabled them to measure long-term health effects over time.