Impacts of endocrine disruptors on reproductive health in the era of increased personal care and beauty products usage

Abstract

Abstract Background Endocrine disruptors originate from multiple sources making their health impacts enormously complex. This study systematically synthesizes the sources, exposure, and effects of personal care products on reproductive health. Main body The PRISMA and Meta-Analyses frameworks were used to review and present integrated evidence. The literature search was undertaken in PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus. All studies that focused on the sources, exposure pathways, and reproductive health impact of endocrine disruptors were included in the final review. Although the review included articles published from 2000 to 2021, most studies were conducted between the years 2010 and 2020. There was great variability in terms of studies conducted in individual countries, of which 34.4% were published in the USA. The review found that endocrine disruptors abound in the environment and their impact on females and males’ reproduction are profound. Phthalates, Bisphenol A, MXC, and Dioxins were widely studied EDCs as determiner of reproductive health. Crucially, the human body concentration of these EDCs varies between people of diverse backgrounds. Conclusion While the bodily concentration of these EDCs is higher, it varies greatly among different groups of people. Respective governments and NGOs should provide the needed funding for research on personal care products and EDCs. Moreover, individual and spatial heterogeneity should be considered in the risk assessment of these chemicals.

Keywords

• Endocrine disruptive chemicals
• Personal care products
• Reproductive health
• Exposure pathways