Study Finds Fungicide Exposure Causes Lasting Health Effects Across Generations

Research shows epigenetic changes from prenatal vinclozolin exposure persist for 20 rat generations.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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A study by Washington State University scientists has found that a single prenatal exposure to the fungicide vinclozolin can increase disease risk across 20 generations of rats, with conditions intensifying over time. The research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, expands our understanding of how long the intergenerational effects of toxic exposure may last, as they are passed down through alterations in reproductive cells.

Why it matters

This study suggests that epigenetic disease inheritance could help explain the rising rates of chronic disease in humans, as the increase parallels the rising use of pesticides, fungicides, and other environmental chemicals. The findings raise concerns about the long-term health impacts of chemical exposures and the need for preventative measures.

The details

The study, led by biologist Michael Skinner, who has studied epigenetic transgenerational inheritance for 20 years, found that the heightened prevalence of disease in the kidneys, prostate, testes, and ovaries persisted through 20 generations of rats following an initial exposure to vinclozolin, a fungicide used primarily in fruit crops. Around the 15th generation, the disease situation became more prominent, with abnormalities during the birth process, such as mothers dying or all the pups dying.

  • The initial study was published in late 2025.
  • The current study, which doubled the number of generations studied, was published in February 2026.

The players

Michael Skinner

A biologist at Washington State University who has studied epigenetic transgenerational inheritance for 20 years and led the research team that conducted this study.

Washington State University

The university where the research was conducted.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

The scientific journal that published the study.

Vinclozolin

A fungicide used primarily in fruit crops to control blight, mold, and rot, which was the focus of the exposure in the study.

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What they’re saying

“Essentially, when a gestating female is exposed, the fetus is exposed. 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.”

— Michael Skinner, Biologist (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences)

“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. 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.”

— Michael Skinner, Biologist (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences)

“This study really does say that this is not going to go away. We need to do something about it. We can use epigenetics to move us away from reactionary medicine and toward preventative medicine.”

— Michael Skinner, Biologist (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences)

What’s next

The researchers plan to continue studying the long-term effects of chemical exposures and explore ways to prevent and mitigate the resulting health issues.

The takeaway

This study highlights the concerning potential for lasting, intergenerational health impacts from chemical exposures, underscoring the need for greater regulation and preventative measures to protect public health.