Seminar: “Endocrine and Nervous System Effects of EDC Mixtures on Maternal Health“ - Marissa Sobolewski, PhD

Endocrinology and Animal Biosciences Seminar:

“Endocrine and Nervous System Effects of EDC Mixtures on Maternal Health“

Marissa Sobolewski, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center

Exposure to mixtures of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) from multiple chemical classes occurs commonly during human pregnancy. Our research expands beyond single chemical class mixtures to evaluate how chemicals from diverse chemical classes can act uniquely, even via different mechanisms with converging effects on downstream targets to induce deficits in maternal health and sex-specific behavioral deficits in exposed offspring. Dams exposed to a curated mixture of EDCs showed reduced estradiol and testosterone levels during gestation and broad metabolic effects in glucose tolerance and serum cholesterol levels, six months following exposure. Given that the mixture of EDCs showed protracted effects on maternal metabolic health, these data highlight the importance of studying effects of EDCs on maternal health across the lifespan. Research needs to move beyond focusing on gestational exposures to understand the effects on the developing fetus and move to also prioritize maternal health.