Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Pregnancy and Prenatal Exposure to Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals Commonly Used in Personal Care Products

Overview

Journal Curr Environ Health Rep

Specialty Environmental Health

Date 2021 May 28

PMID 34046860

Citations 39

Authors

Marissa Chan

Carol Mita

Andrea Bellavia

Michaiah Parker

Tamarra James-Todd

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose Of Review: Endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC) exposure during pregnancy is linked to adverse maternal and child health outcomes that are racially/ethnically disparate. Personal care products (PCP) are one source of EDCs where differences in racial/ethnic patterns of use exist. We assessed the literature for racial/ethnic disparities in pregnancy and prenatal PCP chemical exposures.

Recent Findings: Only 3 studies explicitly examined racial/ethnic disparities in pregnancy and prenatal exposure to PCP-associated EDCs. Fifty-three articles from 12 cohorts presented EDC concentrations stratified by race/ethnicity or among homogenous US minority populations. Studies reported on phthalates and phenols. Higher phthalate metabolites and paraben concentrations were observed for pregnant non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic women. Higher concentrations of benzophenone-3 were observed in non-Hispanic White women; results were inconsistent for triclosan. This review highlights need for future research examining pregnancy and prenatal PCP-associated EDCs disparities to understand and reduce racial/ethnic disparities in maternal and child health.

Citing Articles

Racial and ethnic differences in prenatal exposure to environmental phenols and parabens in the ECHO Cohort.

Bloom M, Upadhyaya S, Nzegwu A, Kuiper J, Buckley J, Aschner J J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2025; .

PMID: 39955434 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-025-00750-w.

Association between phthalate exposure and rash eczema disease: based on NHANES 2005-2006.

Mu Q, Hu F, Shen Y, Zheng Y, Ye X, Liu Y Arch Dermatol Res. 2025; 317(1):338.

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Improving the Health and Environmental Health Literacy of Professionals: Evaluating the Effect of a Virtual Intervention on Phthalate Environmental Health Literacy.

Tomsho K, Quinn M, Wang Z, Preston E, Adamkiewicz G, Joseph N Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2025; 21(12).

PMID: 39767412 PMC: 11675889. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21121571.

Here's the Rub: Skin Care Products and Children's Phthalate Exposures.

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PMID: 39666390 PMC: 11636779. DOI: 10.1289/EHP16068.

Asking Why Is Necessary to Address Health Disparities: A Critical Approach for Solution-Oriented Environmental Epidemiological Research.

James-Todd T, Tomsho K, Gaston S, Elliott K, Jackson C Environ Health Perspect. 2024; 132(11):115001.

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