Chapter 10 - Endocrine disruption

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of the mechanisms by which constituent chemicals in personal care products (PCPs) may interfere with the action of hormones and the consequent implications for human endocrine health. Ingredients in PCPs which possess endocrine-disrupting properties include antimicrobial compounds (parabens, triclosan), chemical ultraviolet (UV) filters, chemical components of fragrance, phthalates, alkylphenols, aluminum-based antiperspirant salts, and some plant-based components. Endocrine disruption may occur through interference with the actions of steroid hormone receptors (most notably estrogen receptors), thyroid hormone receptors, peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptors, and the aryl hydrocarbon receptor. Overall mechanistic outcomes of the complex mixtures of endocrine disruptors now measurable in human tissues need to take account of the additive effects of individual compounds when acting through cellular receptors, of their nonmonotonic dose response curves, and of the ability of some compounds/mixtures to give responses in the long-term (weeks) which are not seen in short-term (hours and days). This chapter discusses published cases of endocrine disruption in the human body following topical exposure to products containing hormonally active substances, and reviews published correlations between tissue concentrations of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) originating from PCPs use and adverse human endocrine health outcomes.