Maternal use of personal care products during pregnancy and risk of testicular germ cell tumors in sons

Time-dependent hormesis transfer from five high-frequency personal care product components to mixtures

There is potential for personal care products (PCPs) components and mixtures to induce hormesis. How hormesis is related to time and transmitted from components to mixtures are not clear. In this paper, we conducted determination of components in 16 PCP products and then ran frequent itemset mining on the component data. Five high-frequency components (HFCs), betaine (BET), 1,3-butanediol (BUT), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt (EDTA), glycerol (GLO), and phenoxyethanol (POE), and 14 mixtures were identified. For each mixture system, one mixture ray with the actual mixture ratios in the products was selected. Time-dependent microplate toxicity analysis was used to test the luminescence inhibition toxicity of five HFCs and 14 mixture rays to Vibrio qinghaiensis sp.-Q67 at 12 concentration gradients and eight exposure times. It is showed that BET, EDTA, POE, and 13 mixture rays containing at least one J-type component showed time-dependent hormesis. Characteristic parameters used to describe hormesis revealed that the absolute value of the maximum stimulatory effect (|Emin|) generally increased with time. Notably, mixtures composed of POE and S-type components showed greater |Emin| than POE alone at the same time. Importantly, the maximum stimulatory effective concentration, NOEC/the zero effective concentration point, and EC50 remained relatively stable. Nine hormesis transmission phenomena were observed in different mixture rays. While all mixtures primarily exhibited additive action, varying degrees of synergism and antagonism were noted in binary mixtures, with no strong synergism or antagonism observed in ternary and quaternary mixtures. These findings offer valuable insights for the screening of HFCs and their mixtures, as well as the study of hormesis transmission in personal care products.

Effects associated with exposure to the emerging contaminant octyl-methoxycinnamate (a UV-B filter) in the aquatic environment: a review

Given the increasing concern surrounding ultraviolet (UV) radiation-induced skin damage, there has been a rise in demand for UV filters. Currently, UV-filters are considered emerging contaminants. The extensive production and use of UV filters have led to their widespread release into the aquatic environment. Thus, there is growing concern that UV filters may bioaccumulate and exhibit persistent properties within the environment, raising several safety health concerns. Octyl-methoxycinnamate (OMC) is extensively employed as a UV-B filter in the cosmetic industry. While initially designed to mitigate the adverse photobiological effects attributed to UV radiation, the safety of OMC has been questioned with some studies reporting toxic effects on environment. The aim of this review to provide an overview of the scientific information regarding the most widely used organic UV-filter (OMC), and its effects on biodiversity and aquatic environment.

Parental occupations at birth and risk of adult testicular germ cell tumors in offspring: a French nationwide case-control study

Background

Testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT) are the most frequent cancer in young men in developed countries. Parental occupational exposures during early-life periods are suspected to increase TGCT risk. The objective was to estimate the association between parental occupations at birth and adult TGCT.

Methods

A case-control study was conducted, including 454 TGCT cases aged 18-45 from 20 French university hospitals, matched to 670 controls based on region and year of birth. Data collected from participants included parental jobs at birth coded according to the International Standard Classification of Occupation-1968 and the French nomenclature of activities-1999. Odds ratios (OR) for TGCT and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using conditional logistic regression, adjusting for TGCT risk factors.

Results

Paternal jobs at birth as service workers (OR = 1.98, CI 1.18-3.30), protective service workers (OR = 2.40, CI 1.20-4.81), transport equipment operators (OR = 1.96, CI 1.14-3.37), specialized farmers (OR = 2.66, CI 1.03-6.90), and maternal jobs as secondary education teachers (OR = 2.27, CI 1.09-4.76) or in secondary education (OR = 2.35, CI 1.13-4.88) were significantly associated with adult TGCT. The risk of seminoma was increased for the above-mentioned paternal jobs and that of non-seminomas for public administration and defence; compulsory social security (OR = 1.99, CI 1.09-3.65); general, economic, and social administration (OR = 3.21, CI 1.23-8.39) for fathers; and secondary education teacher (OR = 4.67, CI 1.87-11.67) and secondary education (OR = 3.50, CI 1.36-9.01) for mothers.

Conclusion

Some paternal jobs, such as service workers, transport equipment operators, or specialized farmers, and maternal jobs in secondary education seem to be associated with an increased risk of TGCT with specific features depending on the histological type. These data allow hypotheses to be put forward for further studies as to the involvement of occupational exposures in the risk of developing TGCT, such as exposure to pesticides, solvents, or heavy metals.

Environmental disruptors and testicular cancer

PURPOSE

Testicular cancer (TC) is the most common malignancy among young adult males. The etiology is multifactorial, and both environmental and genetic factors play an essential role in the origin and development of this tumor. In particular, exposure to environmental endocrine disruptors (EEDs), resulting from industrialization and urbanization, seems crucial both in pre-and postnatal life. However, the lack of long-term studies on a wide caseload and the difficulty in evaluating their toxic effects in vivo make it challenging to establish a causal link. This review aims to discuss the main human epidemiological studies currently available in the literature to define a possible association between these chemicals and TC.

METHODS

A comprehensive Medline/PubMed and Embase search was performed, selecting all relevant, peer-reviewed papers in English published from 2002 to January 2022. Other relevant papers were selected from the reference lists.

RESULTS

To date, literature evidence is limited due to the scarcity and heterogeneity of human studies and shows controversial data, highlighting the complexity of the topic. However, most human epidemiological studies seem to point toward a correlation between EEDs exposure and TC.

CONCLUSION

Although the molecular mechanisms are not yet fully understood, the role of EEDs in TC onset is plausible, but several factors, such as the individual genetic background, the exposure time, and the complex mechanism of action of these chemicals, do not allow defining the causal link with certainty and make further studies necessary to investigate this complex topic.

UV-B filter octylmethoxycinnamate-induced vascular endothelial disruption on rat aorta: In silico and in vitro approach

Throughout human life, an extensive and varied range of emerging environmental contaminants, called endocrine disruptors (EDCs), cause adverse health effects, including in the cardiovascular (CV) system. Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are worryingly one of the leading causes of all mortality and mobility worldwide. The UV-B filter octylmethoxycinnamate (also designated octinoxate, or ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate (CAS number: 5466-77-3)) is an EDC widely present in all personal care products. However, to date, there are no studies evaluating the OMC-induced effects on vasculature using animal models to improve human cardiovascular health. This work analysed the effects of OMC on rat aorta vasculature and explored the modes of action implicated in these effects. Our results indicated that OMC relaxes the rat aorta by endothelium-dependent mechanisms through the signaling pathways of cyclic nucleotides and by endothelium-independent mechanisms involving inhibition of L-Type voltage-operated Ca²⁺ channels (L-Type VOCC). Overall, OMC toxicity on rat aorta may produce hypotension via vasodilation due to excessive NO release and blockade of L-Type VOCC. Moreover, the OMC-induced endothelial dysfunction may also occur by promoting the endothelial release of endothelin-1. Therefore, our findings demonstrate that exposure to OMC alters the reactivity of the rat aorta and highlight that long-term OMC exposure may increase the risk of human CV diseases.

Hair Dye Ingredients and Potential Health Risks from Exposure to Hair Dyeing

Given the worldwide popularity of hair dyeing, there is an urgent need to understand the toxicities and risks associated with exposure to chemicals found in hair dye formulations. Hair dyes are categorized as oxidative and nonoxidative in terms of their chemical composition and ingredients. For several decades, the expert panel's Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) has assessed the safety of many of the chemicals used in hair dyes; however, a comprehensive review of hair dye ingredients and the risk of exposure to hair dyeing has not been documented. Herein, we review the safety of the various chemicals in oxidative and nonoxidative hair dyes, toxicities associated with hair dyeing, and the carcinogenic risks related to hair dyeing. While many compounds are considered safe for users at the concentrations in hair dyes, there are conflicting data about a large number of hair dye formulations. The CIR expert panel has ratified a number of coloring ingredients for hair dyes and banned a series of chemicals as carcinogenic to animals and unsafe for this application. The use of these chemicals as raw materials for producing hair dyes may result in the synthesis of other contaminants with potential toxicities and increased risk of carcinogenesis. It is an open question whether personal or occupational hair dyeing increases the risk of cancer; however, in specific subpopulations, a positive association between hair dye use and cancer occurrence has been reported. To address this question, a better understanding of the chemical and mechanistic basis of the reported toxicities of hair dye mixtures and individual hair dye ingredients is needed. It is anticipated that in-depth chemical and systems toxicology studies harnessing modern and emerging techniques can shed light on this public health concern in the future.

Fetoplacental vasculature as a model to study human cardiovascular endocrine disruption

Increasing evidence has associated the exposure of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) with the cardiovascular (CV) system. This exposure is particularly problematic in a sensitive window of development, pregnancy. Pregnancy exposome can affect the overall health of the pregnancy by dramatic changes in vascular physiology and endocrine activity, increasing maternal susceptibility. Moreover, fetoplacental vascular function is generally altered, increasing the risk of developing pregnancy complications (including cardiovascular diseases, CVD) and predisposing the foetus to adverse health risks later in life. Thus, our review summarizes the existing literature on exposures to EDCs during pregnancy and adverse maternal health outcomes, focusing on the human placenta, vein, and umbilical artery associated with pregnancy complications. The purpose of this review is to highlight the role of fetoplacental vasculature as a model for the study of human cardiovascular endocrine disruption. Therefore, we emphasize that the placenta, together with the umbilical arteries and veins, allows a better characterization of the pregnant woman's exposome. Consequently, it contributes to the protection of the mother and foetus against CV disorders in life.

Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals and Risk of Testicular Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

The incidence of many hormone-dependent diseases, including testicular cancer, has sharply increased in all high-income countries during the 20th century. This is not fully explained by established risk factors. Concurrent, increasing exposure to antiandrogenic environmental endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in fetal life may partially explain this trend. This systematic review assessed available evidence regarding the association between environmental EDC exposure and risk of testicular cancer (seminomas and nonseminomas). Following PRISMA guidelines, a search of English peer-reviewed literature published prior to December 14, 2020 in the databases PubMed and Embase® was performed. Among the 279 identified records, 19 were eligible for quality assessment and 10 for further meta-analysis. The completeness of reporting was high across papers, but over 50% were considered subject to potential risk of bias. Mean age at diagnosis was 31.9 years. None considered effects of EDC multipollutant mixtures. The meta-analyses showed that maternal exposure to combined EDCs was associated with a higher risk of testicular cancer in male offspring [summary risk ratios: 2.16, (95% CI:1.78-2.62), 1.93 (95% CI:1.49-2.48), and 2.78 (95% CI:2.27-3.41) for all, seminoma, and nonseminoma, respectively]. Similarly, high maternal exposures to grouped organochlorines and organohalogens were associated with higher risk of seminoma and nonseminoma in the offspring. Summary estimates related to postnatal adult male EDC exposures were inconsistent. Maternal, but not postnatal adult male, EDC exposures were consistently associated with a higher risk of testicular cancer, particularly risk of nonseminomas. However, the quality of studies was mixed, and considering the fields complexity, more prospective studies of prenatal EDC multipollutant mixture exposures and testicular cancer are needed.

Association between gestational hair dye use and allergies at 3 years old: the Japan environment and Children's study

BACKGROUND

Hair dye use frequently induces allergic contact dermatitis, and on rare occasions induces immunoglobulin E-mediated immediate urticaria, anaphylaxis, and asthma. The effects of hair dye use during pregnancy on offspring have been studied for carcinogenicity, but not for development of allergies. This study aimed to assess the association between hair dye use during pregnancy and allergic disease in children at 3 years old.

METHODS

Data of 77,303 participants from the Japan Environment and Children's Study, which is a prospective birth cohort recruited from January 2011 to March 2014, were used. We examined the associations between using hair dye during pregnancy and allergic diseases (food allergy, asthma, atopic dermatitis and allergic rhinitis) in children after adjustment for covariates by multivariable logistic regression.

RESULTS

Among mothers who were exposed to hair dye during pregnancy, 50.0% were exposed in hair salons, 21.3% had home use, and 9.5% had occupational exposure. The percentages of doctor-diagnosed allergies at 3 years old were 6.3% for food allergies, 7.7% for asthma, 7.3% for atopic dermatitis, and 4.6% for allergic rhinitis. In univariable analyses, hair dye use at home and occupational exposure was significantly associated with asthma respectively (odds ratio [OR] 1.15, 95% CI 1.07-1.24 for at home; OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.08-1.28 for occupational exposure). Hair dye use at home were significantly associated with doctor-diagnosed allergic rhinitis at 3 years old (OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.02-1.22). After adjustment for covariates, these associations for asthma decreased and were no longer significant (aOR 1.06, 95% CI 0.98-1.14 for at home; aOR 1.09, 95% CI 1.00-1.20 for occupational exposure, p = 0.057), also for allergic rhinitis (aOR 1.07, 95% CI 0.97-1.19). Doctor-diagnosed allergic rhinitis at 3 years old was significantly associated with hair dye use at home in the most frequent use group (aOR for quite often versus never 1.78, 95% CI 1.22-2.60).

CONCLUSION

Both home and occupation use of hair dye during pregnancy showed a trend of increased odds of allergic rhinitis and asthma in offspring at 3 years. However, the only association that reached significance was in frequency of use analyses between the highest frequency of home hair dye users and allergic rhinitis.

UV-B filter octylmethoxycinnamate impaired the main vasorelaxant mechanism of human umbilical artery

Personal care products (PCPs) are a group of diverse substances widely used daily for health, beauty, and cleanliness. More than 90% of all PCPs contain the UV-B filter octylmethoxycinnamate (OMC) as a protective function, however, their safety has recently been questioned. The purpose of the present work was to understand how the long-term exposure of UV-filter OMC, used daily by pregnant women, disrupts their vascular homeostasis, altering vascular responses of proteins and channels involved in contractile processes. The long-term effects of 24 h of exposure to OMC (1, 10, and 50 μmol/L) were evaluated on contractile responses of human umbilical arteries (HUA) to serotonin and potassium chloride. Since OMC altered vascular homeostasis of arteries, its vascular mode of action was explored in more detail through the analysis of the activity of cGMP and Ca²⁺-channels, two pathways involved in their relaxation and contraction, respectively. Our findings showed that long-term exposure of UV-filter OMC impaired the main vasorelaxant mechanism of HUA, once OMC altered the vasorelaxant response pattern of sodium nitroprusside and nifedipine. Results also showed that long-term exposure to OMC induced a decreased vasorelaxation response on HUA due to an interference with the NO/sGC/cGMP/PKG pathway. Moreover, OMC seems to modulate the L-type Ca²⁺ channels, the BKCa 1.1 α-subunit channels, and the PKG. Overall, since OMC compromises the vascular homeostasis of pregnant women it can be an inductor of pregnancy hypertensive disorders.

Effects and Mechanisms of Phthalates' Action on Reproductive Processes and Reproductive Health: A Literature Review

The production of plastic products, which requires phthalate plasticizers, has resulted in the problems for human health, especially that of reproductive health. Phthalate exposure can induce reproductive disorders at various regulatory levels. The aim of this review was to compile the evidence concerning the association between phthalates and reproductive diseases, phthalates-induced reproductive disorders, and their possible endocrine and intracellular mechanisms. Phthalates may induce alterations in puberty, the development of testicular dysgenesis syndrome, cancer, and fertility disorders in both males and females. At the hormonal level, phthalates can modify the release of hypothalamic, pituitary, and peripheral hormones. At the intracellular level, phthalates can interfere with nuclear receptors, membrane receptors, intracellular signaling pathways, and modulate gene expression associated with reproduction. To understand and to treat the adverse effects of phthalates on human health, it is essential to expand the current knowledge concerning their mechanism of action in the organism.

Association of self-reported personal care product use with blood glucose levels measured during pregnancy among women from a fertility clinic

BACKGROUND

Personal care products (PCPs), known sources of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) such as phthalates and parabens, are widely used among women of reproductive age. EDCs have been linked to pregnancy complications such as gestational diabetes (GDM), and PCP use could represent a modifiable source of exposure in this sensitive time window. Yet, to our knowledge, no study has directly evaluated the association between pregnancy use of PCP and late pregnancy glucose levels, established risk factors for complications such as GDM.

METHODS

A total of 233 women from the Environment and Reproductive Health (EARTH) Study had data available on 1st and/or 2nd trimester PCP use, assessed through self-reported use over the previous 24 h, and blood glucose levels after the glucose loading test (GLT), taken at late 2nd trimester. Associations between each individual PCP and total PCP with glucose levels were evaluated in multivariable adjusted linear regression models.

RESULTS

Both positive and negative differences in glucose levels were observed when comparing users vs. non-users of several PCPs including 2nd trimester use of deodorant (adjusted mean difference: 12.2 mg/dL, 95% CI: -0.6, 24.9); bar soap (6.9 mg/dL, 95% CI: -0.9, 14.7 mg/dL); and liquid soap (-13.3, 95% CI: -26.8, 0.1 mg/dL), and 1st trimester use of sunscreen (-14.6 mg/dL, 95% CI: -27.8, -1.5 mg/dL). Total number of PCPs used in the 2nd trimester was also associated with higher glucose levels, with the largest difference of 20 mg/dL when comparing individuals who used eight vs none PCPs (95% CI: 3-37).

CONCLUSIONS

In a pregnancy cohort of women seeking care at a fertility clinic, we found the use of several PCPs to be positively or negatively associated with glucose levels in the late second trimester, which may reflect increased risk of GDM and subsequent perinatal outcomes. These results strengthen the role of product use as a potentially modifiable source of EDCs that may impact glucose levels.

Simultaneous laccase production and transformation of bisphenol-A and triclosan using Trametes versicolor

New age micro-pollutants, bisphenol-A (BPA) and triclosan (TCA), known for their carcinogenic effects in living organisms can effectively be removed from water using laccase from Trametes versicolor. Laccase was produced from T. versicolor JSRK13 in both submerged and solid-state fermentation (SmF and SSF) conditions. In SmF, T. versicolor JSRK13 gave the maximum production of laccase on the 10th day with an activity of 22 U mL^- 1, whereas, in SSF 185 U g^- 1 of the enzyme was produced on the 17th day. Maximum production of laccase was observed with Parthenium as substrate. Parthenium, with a particle size of 3-5 mm having 60% moisture was found to be a suitable substrate for laccase production and simultaneous transformation (LPST) of BPA in a synergistic manner. A one-step concentration using 85% ammonium sulphate followed by dialysis was sufficient to give 6.7-fold purification of laccase from the crude culture filtrate. Transformation of BPA was achieved in both SmF and SSF conditions along with the production of laccase, whereas TCA was degraded with free enzyme only. Above 90% of BPA (55-5 mg L^- 1) was degraded using the LPST strategy with HBT acting as a mediator in the reaction. LPST strategy did not work for TCA as it completely inhibits the growth of T. versicolor JSRK13. TCA was degraded up to 75% (1.5-0.375 mg L^- 1) by the free enzyme. Our study of simultaneous laccase production and transformation proved to be efficacious in case of BPA. The results indicate that industrial and sewage wastewater containing BPA can potentially be treated with T. versicolor JSRK13 laccase. The described strategy can further be used to develop a bioprocess which can work both on solid and liquid wastes containing BPA.