TY - JOUR
T1 - The Chemical Exposome on Ovarian Aging in Adult Women
T2 - a Narrative Review
AU - Petrick, Lauren M.
AU - Wise, Lauren A.
AU - Colicino, Elena
AU - Horton, Megan K.
AU - Rabinovici, Jaron
AU - Strauss, Tzipora
AU - Sarna, Batya
AU - Lerner-Geva, Liat
AU - Elovitz, Michal A.
AU - Wright, Rosalind J.
AU - Baccarelli, Andrea A.
AU - Machtinger, Ronit
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025.
PY - 2025/12
Y1 - 2025/12
N2 - Purpose of Review: The effects of environmental exposures on female reproductive outcomes in early life are well studied. In contrast, we do not understand the broad range of chemical risk factors on women’s reproductive physiology during midlife. The purpose of this review is to summarize the epidemiological literature on associations between environmental exposures (i.e., phthalates, phenols, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), toxic metals, air pollution, and persistent organic compounds) and ovarian function and sex hormones as women approach and transverse the menopausal transition. Recent Findings: There is accumulating evidence of associations between phthalate metabolites, air pollution, and chlorinated organic chemical exposures and decreased ovarian function and associations between selected PFAS chemicals and increased testosterone or decreased estradiol, suggesting that these chemicals are risk factors. More studies are needed to confirm emerging evidence regarding other chemicals and reproductive aging markers. Summary: Most studies were cross-sectional in design or restricted to couples receiving infertility treatment, which may induce selection bias and reduce generalizability. Additionally, there has been limited research in ethnically, racially, or socioeconomically diverse populations. Nevertheless, PFAS, phthalate metabolites, air pollution, and chlorinated organic solvents are potential risk factors for adverse reproductive outcomes in adult women. An exposome approach using advanced omics technologies to capture a broad chemical range of repeated measures can address knowledge gaps needed to identify risk factors.
AB - Purpose of Review: The effects of environmental exposures on female reproductive outcomes in early life are well studied. In contrast, we do not understand the broad range of chemical risk factors on women’s reproductive physiology during midlife. The purpose of this review is to summarize the epidemiological literature on associations between environmental exposures (i.e., phthalates, phenols, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), toxic metals, air pollution, and persistent organic compounds) and ovarian function and sex hormones as women approach and transverse the menopausal transition. Recent Findings: There is accumulating evidence of associations between phthalate metabolites, air pollution, and chlorinated organic chemical exposures and decreased ovarian function and associations between selected PFAS chemicals and increased testosterone or decreased estradiol, suggesting that these chemicals are risk factors. More studies are needed to confirm emerging evidence regarding other chemicals and reproductive aging markers. Summary: Most studies were cross-sectional in design or restricted to couples receiving infertility treatment, which may induce selection bias and reduce generalizability. Additionally, there has been limited research in ethnically, racially, or socioeconomically diverse populations. Nevertheless, PFAS, phthalate metabolites, air pollution, and chlorinated organic solvents are potential risk factors for adverse reproductive outcomes in adult women. An exposome approach using advanced omics technologies to capture a broad chemical range of repeated measures can address knowledge gaps needed to identify risk factors.
KW - Environment
KW - Exposome
KW - Exposure timing
KW - Menopausal transition
KW - Ovarian aging
KW - Reproductive hormones
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85219652113&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s40726-025-00341-1
DO - 10.1007/s40726-025-00341-1
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AN - SCOPUS:85219652113
SN - 2198-6592
VL - 11
JO - Current Pollution Reports
JF - Current Pollution Reports
IS - 1
M1 - 13
ER -