Everyday plastic chemicals and women's reproductive aging
Official title: Phthalate Exposure and Female Reproductive Aging
Funded at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign · NIH-11469589 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work looks at whether common phthalates found in plastics speed up reproductive aging in adult women.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Champaign, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2022 |
| Project end | October 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $28,562 |
| NIH project number | 3R01ES034112-04S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11469589 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adult women (roughly age 21 and older) concerned about early reproductive aging or early menopause would be the main patient group linked to this work.
✕Less likely to help
Men, children, or people whose reproductive aging is driven by genetic or non-environmental causes are less likely to benefit directly from this research.
What this research studies
From the patient's perspective, researchers are using experiments that link exposure to two common phthalates (DEHP and DiNP) with signs of earlier reproductive aging. In lab studies they expose adult animals to these chemicals and measure changes in the ovary, hypothalamus, and immune cells that drive inflammation. The team is focusing on inflammatory pathways and the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) to understand how these exposures might trigger early menopause. Findings aim to clarify mechanisms so future human-focused studies or prevention strategies can be developed.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could reveal how everyday plastic chemicals contribute to earlier menopause and point to ways to prevent or treat early reproductive aging.
How similar studies have gone: Prior animal studies and preliminary data have shown phthalate exposure can increase inflammatory markers and reproductive aging indicators, but translating these findings to humans remains an ongoing effort.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Flaws, Jodi a. — University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Study coordinator: Flaws, Jodi a.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.