Research Results

Beta Version

Use the search bar below to find studies, or apply one or more filters to narrow your results. See our list of keywords to guide your search.

Search by keyword

Try these: air pollutionalcoholbisphenolshormonespersonal care productspesticidesplastic

Filter by Risk Factors
Filter by Protective Factors
Filter by Exposure Sources
Filter by Chemical Classes

Sort By

  • Relevance
  • Title (A to Z)
  • Title (Z to A)
  • Publication Year (Ascending)
  • Publication Year (Descending)
  • Authors (A to Z)
  • Authors (Z to A)

Association between Urinary Phenols and Parabens as Well as Breast Cancer.

Wu et al,

2025

Iran J of Pub Health

This study of nearly 5,000 U.S. women found that exposure to triclosan—an antibacterial chemical once commonly found in soaps, toothpaste, and other personal care products—was associated with more than double the breast cancer risk at moderate exposure levels, while propylparaben (a preservative in cosmetics and foods) showed a protective association. However, when researchers examined the combined effect of multiple phenols and parabens together, they found no significant association with breast cancer, suggesting these chemicals may have complex and sometimes opposing effects. These mixed findings highlight the need for more research to understand how individual chemicals versus chemical mixtures affect breast cancer risk, especially since people are typically exposed to multiple chemicals simultaneously in everyday products.

Risk of breast cancer and prediagnostic urinary excretion of bisphenol A, triclosan and parabens: The Multiethnic Cohort Study.

Wu et al,

2021

Int J Cancer

In a nested case-control study of over 1,000 breast cancer cases and matched controls from the Multiethnic Cohort, pre-diagnostic urinary concentrations of bisphenol A (BPA), triclosan, and parabens were evaluated in relation to breast cancer risk. BPA was not significantly associated with risk; the highest tertile of total parabens had OR ≈ 0.77 (95% CI: 0.62–0.97) relative to the lowest tertile, indicating a modest inverse association. These results suggest that the relationships between common endocrine-disrupting chemicals and breast cancer may be more complex than anticipated and vary by exposure type.

Childhood and adolescent phenol and phthalate exposure and the age of menarche in Latina girls.

Binder et al,

2018

Environ Health

This longitudinal study examined how exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) affects the timing of menarche in Chilean girls by measuring 26 phenol and phthalate compounds in urine samples collected before breast development and during adolescence. The researchers found that different chemicals had varying effects depending on when exposure was measured: higher early exposure to DEHP was associated with later menarche, while early exposure to certain phenols and later exposure to some phthalates were linked to earlier menarche. The study also revealed that body weight influenced these effects, with overweight or obese girls showing earlier menarche when exposed to higher levels of certain chemicals like triclosan, while normal-weight girls did not show this association. These findings demonstrate that specific EDCs can disrupt normal sexual development in girls, with timing of exposure and body weight being important factors.

Associations between phenol and paraben exposure and the risk of developing breast cancer in adult women: a cross-sectional study.

Xiong et al,

2025

Sci Rep

A large U.S. study of 4,455 people found that exposure to triclosan (TRS)—an antibacterial chemical commonly found in soaps, toothpaste, and personal care products—was associated with more than double the risk of breast cancer at moderate exposure levels, with the relationship following an inverted U-shape pattern. The association was strongest among overweight individuals, people under 60 years old, and white participants, while other tested chemicals (including bisphenol A, benzophenone-3, and parabens) showed no significant link to breast cancer risk. These findings suggest that triclosan exposure may be an important modifiable risk factor for breast cancer, particularly for certain population groups, though more research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms and confirm causality.

Personal Care Products, Socioeconomic Status, and Endocrine-Disrupting Chemical Mixtures in Black Women.

Schildroth et al,

2024

Environ Sci Technol

A study of 751 reproductive-aged Black women found that the relationship between personal care product (PCP) use and exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) varied significantly by socioeconomic status (SES), with different patterns of chemical exposure from the same products depending on women’s education, income, and employment. For example, vaginal powder use was associated with higher phenol exposure (a class of EDCs) among lower SES women but showed no such association in higher SES women, suggesting that product formulations, brands, or usage patterns may differ across SES groups. These findings highlight that Black women face inequitable EDC exposures that are influenced by both race and socioeconomic factors, underscoring the need for targeted public health interventions that address these intersecting disparities in chemical exposures from everyday products

Endocrine disruptors: Unravelling the link between chemical exposure and Women’s reproductive health.

Hassan et al,

2024

Environ Res

Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs)—including bisphenol A, phthalates, parabens, pesticides, and heavy metals commonly found in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and packaging—are widespread environmental pollutants that interfere with the body’s hormone system. Research shows EDCs have harmful effects on women’s reproductive health, contributing to conditions such as endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, uterine fibroids, premature ovarian failure, menstrual irregularities, and infertility. This review emphasizes the need for healthcare professionals to consider environmental exposures when evaluating patients, highlights potential mechanisms by which EDCs affect female reproduction, and discusses how nutritional interventions and stricter environmental regulations could help reduce EDC-related health risks. Understanding the link between EDCs and women’s health is crucial for developing protective strategies, informing treatment approaches, and shaping public policies to safeguard reproductive and overall well-being. The study seeks to advise that couples attempting to conceive should avoid endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) such as BPA, pesticides, and phthalates. Following this advice is found to be crucial during the prenatal and periconceptional periods, where fetal development and growth are critical in this window.

Endocrine disruptors and asthma-associated chemicals in consumer products.

Dodson et al,

2012

Environ Health Perspect

This study analyzed 213 everyday products, including cosmetics, cleaners, and personal care items, for endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and asthma-related compounds. Testing revealed 55 chemicals, with fragranced products and sunscreens containing the highest levels. Vinyl products were also found to contain significant amounts of bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a known EDC. Many harmful chemicals were not listed on product labels, limiting consumer ability to avoid them. These results highlight the presence of potentially harmful chemicals in commonly used products, raising concerns about their widespread use in household and personal care items.

Pharmaceuticals and endocrine disruptors in raw and cooked seafood from European market: Concentrations and human exposure levels.

Álvarez-Muñoz et al,

2018

Environ Int

A study analyzing 65 seafood samples (195 analyses including raw and cooked preparations) from 11 European countries for pharmaceuticals (PhACs) and endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs)—chemicals linked to reproductive system effects, metabolic disorders, breast cancer pathogenesis, and antimicrobial resistance—found that while pharmaceuticals were mostly undetectable, EDCs were quantified in the majority of samples, with cooking by steaming significantly increasing their levels 2- to 46-fold. Human exposure assessment focused on three prevalent EDCs (bisphenol A, methylparaben, and triclosan) revealed that the Spanish population had the highest exposure through seafood consumption among the 11 countries studied, though exposures remained below current toxicological reference values. These findings highlight that commercially available seafood in the European Union market contains detectable levels of endocrine-disrupting contaminants that concentrate during cooking, raising concerns about cumulative dietary exposure to these compounds through this widely consumed protein source, particularly in populations with high seafood consumption patterns.

No results found.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Share This