A single exposure to the agricultural fungicide vinclozolin during pregnancy was associated with increased disease risk across more than 20 generations, according to a new study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). Researchers found that exposure during a critical window of fetal development caused inherited biological changes that persisted in descendants that were never directly exposed.
Scientists at Washington State University exposed pregnant rats to vinclozolin during gestational days 8 to 14, a key period when fetal reproductive organs develop. They then monitored health outcomes and biological changes in descendants across 23 generations. The findings were observed in a rat model, and human health implications require further research.¹
The researchers identified long lasting epigenetic changes in reproductive cells. Epigenetics refers to changes in gene activity that do not alter the DNA sequence but affect how genes are turned on or off.
One major mechanism involved DNA methylation, a chemical modification that regulates gene expression. The study found altered DNA methylation patterns in sperm and egg precursor cells, which allowed these changes to pass from one generation to the next.¹
By the 23rd generation, researchers identified numerous altered DNA regulatory regions in germ cells. These epigenetic changes remained stable across generations, demonstrating long term inheritance of altered gene regulation.¹
The study reported increased rates of disease in descendants of exposed animals. These included:
Kidney disease
Prostate abnormalities
Ovarian cysts
Testicular disorders
Male descendants also showed increased germ cell death, which can impair fertility. Female descendants experienced reproductive complications, including increased rates of pregnancy abnormalities and parturition problems in later generations.¹²
These findings show that disease susceptibility persisted across multiple generations despite no further exposure to the fungicide.
Exposure during pregnancy can affect three biological generations simultaneously. This includes the pregnant mother, the developing fetus, and the fetus’s future reproductive cells. If epigenetic changes occur in germ cells, they can transmit disease susceptibility to future generations.²
Researchers found that vinclozolin exposure altered germline epigenetic programming, allowing inherited disease risk to persist long after the original exposure.¹
Vinclozolin is a fungicide previously used to control fungal infections in fruits and vegetables. It acts as an endocrine disruptor by blocking androgen receptors, which are important for male reproductive development and hormone signaling.²³
Earlier animal studies have linked vinclozolin exposure to reproductive abnormalities, infertility, kidney disease, and hormonal disruption.²³
The findings show that vinclozolin exposure was associated with transgenerational epigenetic inheritance of disease susceptibility in this animal model. This mechanism allows biological effects to persist long after the initial exposure.
Although this study was conducted in rats, the researchers noted that epigenetic mechanisms exist across species, including humans. Understanding how environmental exposures influence epigenetic inheritance may help researchers identify disease risk factors and improve prevention strategies.²
The study contributes to growing evidence that environmental factors can influence long term health across generations through epigenetic mechanisms.
Korolenko, Alexandra A., Emma E. Nilsson, Sergio De Santos, and Michael K. Skinner. 2026. "Stability of Epigenetic Transgenerational Inheritance of Adult Onset Disease and Parturition Abnormalities." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2523071123.
Washington State University. 2026. "Toxic Exposure Creates Disease Risk Over 20 Generations." Published February 20, 2026. https://news.wsu.edu/press-release/2026/02/20/toxic-exposure-creates-disease-risk-over-20-generations/
(Rh/MSM)