Systematic Review of the Epidemiology of Hair Relaxer Use and Hormone-Sensitive Reproductive Outcomes Among Black Adult Women in the United States - Peeref (2025)

Summary: Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have significant impacts on biological systems, especially by disrupting hormone balance, affecting reproductive, neurological, and metabolic development and function, and even stimulating tumor growth. EDC exposure during development can disrupt normal development patterns and alter susceptibility to disease. Many chemicals, including bisphenol A, organochlorines, polybrominated flame retardants, alkylphenols, and phthalates, have been identified as risk factors for reproductive, neural, metabolic diseases, and cancers. Endocrine disruption has spread to wildlife and species connected to the food chains. Dietary uptake is an important source of EDC exposure. The relationship and specific mechanism between EDCs and diseases remain unclear. This review focuses on the disease-EDC relationship and disease endpoints associated with endocrine disruption to better understand the EDC-disease relationship, and explores the development of new prevention/treatment opportunities and screening methods.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES (2023)

Summary: Rapidly advancing evidence indicates that synthetic chemicals in the environment contribute to disease and disability across the lifespan. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have a substantial impact on chronic diseases in adulthood, especially metabolic, cardiovascular, and reproductive conditions. The mortality and economic costs of exposure to certain phthalates are significant. Low-income and minority populations are disproportionately affected by these exposures. Government action is necessary to limit hazardous exposures and screen new chemicals. Routine healthcare should include guidance to reduce EDC exposures.

JOURNAL OF INTERNAL MEDICINE (2023)

Summary: Health effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are difficult to detect in the general population. Omics technologies are commonly used in epidemiological studies to identify early biological changes, explore toxic mechanisms, and enhance the plausibility of associations. This scoping review summarizes the application of omics in EDCs-associated biological effects research, identifying gaps and priorities for future studies. The review highlights the need for larger longitudinal studies, wider coverage of exposures and biomarkers, replication studies, and standardization of research methods and reporting. Rating: 7 out of 10.

ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH (2023)

Summary: This article mainly introduces congenital cryptorchidism, including its definition, prevalence, risk factors, and its relationship with environmental chemicals. Cryptorchidism is one of the common birth defects in boys, and factors such as preterm birth and low birth weight increase the risk of the disease. Maternal smoking is also one of the risk factors. In addition, prenatal exposure to environmental chemicals may also be related to the increase in the prevalence of cryptorchidism.

FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY (2024)

Summary: Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are substances of increasing concern for human health and the environment. The lack of a unified standard for identifying chemicals as EDCs is a controversial issue internationally. This review discusses the procedures for EDC identification in different organizations/countries and summarizes three aspects to be considered, including mechanistic data, animal experiments, and epidemiological information. Scientific data on specific chemicals are collected and evaluated, providing a clearer understanding of their effects on hormones and health hazards. This review contributes to standardizing the identification procedure for EDCs.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH (2023)

Summary: This study investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the association between metabolism-disrupting chemicals (MDCs) and birth weight. Through transcriptome analysis, several metabolism-related gene expressions associated with both an MDC and birth weight were identified, and pathways related to genetic information processing were found to be overlapping. This study provides valuable insights into the potential mechanisms of MDC-induced altered birth weight.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES (2023)

Summary: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between human exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and the risk of endocrine-related tumors. A systematic review of observational studies published between 1980 and 2020 was conducted, and it was found that exposure to different types of EDCs, such as phthalates, heavy metals, and pesticides, was associated with increased cancer risk. However, there is a limited amount of research on the effects of EDCs, and further multinational and multicentric human studies are needed to obtain stronger and more consistent evidence.

ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH (2023)

Summary: This study investigated the individual and mixture effects of EDCs in follicular fluid on early reproductive outcomes. Multiple EDCs were significantly negatively associated with early assisted reproduction outcomes, and mixtures had a more significant impact. Phthalates were the main negative factor. Future research is needed to validate these findings.

ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL (2024)

Summary: This article presents a systematic literature review of 45 articles published between 1985 and 2023 on the risk perception of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Four major categories of factors influencing EDC risk perception were identified, including sociodemographic factors, family-related factors, cognitive factors, and psychosocial factors. The review emphasizes the complex nature of EDC risk perception and the importance of these factors for policymakers in developing educational and communication strategies. Future research should expand to cover more EDCs, use representative samples, and explore the influence of psychosocial factors on risk perception more deeply.

ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH (2024)

Summary: The study found associations between home kit and combination use of permanent hair dye and poorly differentiated tumors, especially among Black and ER+ patients. Combination use of relaxers was also linked to larger tumors. While there were correlations between longer duration of use and certain tumor features, they did not maintain significance with Bonferroni correction.

ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH (2022)

Summary: Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are man-made substances that can disrupt the standard function of the endocrine system. They are widespread in the environment and pose a potential threat to human health, aquatics, and wildlife. Traditional instrument-based analytical techniques are not suitable for onsite detection, while sensor/biosensor-based approaches are more attractive due to their rapid, portable, equally sensitive, and eco-friendly characteristics.

FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY (2023)

Summary: Prostate cancer is a commonly diagnosed cancer among men, but the relationship between environmental exposures to chemicals and aggressive PCa is not well understood. This research aims to identify endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) associated with PCa hub genes and/or transcription factors, as well as their protein-protein interaction network. Through bioinformatics analysis of PCa microarray datasets and chemical toxicogenomic database, potential molecular biomarkers can be developed for risk assessment of EDCs in aggressive PCa prognosis.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES (2023)

Summary: This study focuses on the increase in female reproductive system diseases and adverse pregnancy outcomes, and their association with environmental pollution, especially endocrine disrupting chemicals. By reviewing the reproductive toxicity of five major environmental EDCs, it provides a theoretical basis for further research and expects to promote the progress of related prevention and treatment.

FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY (2024)

Summary: This review study examines the impacts of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) on ovarian aging and identifies potential mechanisms. It highlights inconsistent results and knowledge gaps in related research.

ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (2022)

Summary: This study investigated the existence of safe exposure levels and threshold levels for endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Screening of 14 active substances identified as EDCs in the European Union revealed that the toxicological data for three of the substances indicated the presence of adverse thresholds below which no adverse effects were observed. This finding provides evidence that EDCs, like other substances of concern, have threshold levels.

ARCHIVES OF TOXICOLOGY (2024)

Summary: This review explores the mechanisms of ferroptosis in doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy (DIC) and summarizes how natural plant products can alleviate DIC by inhibiting ferroptosis through reducing oxidative stress, correcting iron ion homeostasis, regulating lipid metabolism, and improving mitochondrial function. Doxorubicin (DOX) is an effective chemotherapy drug but is limited by cardiotoxicity such as doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy (DIC). Mechanisms include oxidative stress, inflammation, and more. Natural medicines show promise in mitigating DOX-induced ferroptosis and easing DIC due to their high efficacy and low side effects.

JOURNAL OF APPLIED TOXICOLOGY (2024)

Summary: This article introduces the importance of the CYP33 family in Caenorhabditis elegans and its similarity to human CYP33. It reviews the role of CYP33 enzymes in eicosanoid biosynthesis, xenobiotic metabolism, nanotoxicity, and spermatogenesis, which helps to gain a deeper understanding of cytochrome P450 biology, metabolism, and related diseases.

JOURNAL OF APPLIED TOXICOLOGY (2024)

Summary: This article reviews the harmful effects of nicotine on women's reproductive health, including oxidative stress, apoptosis, and hormonal imbalance. It also describes the possible mechanisms by which nicotine impairs reproductive processes. Women's reproductive health is influenced by various factors, and nicotine is a harmful substance in tobacco that has multiple negative impacts on women's health.

JOURNAL OF APPLIED TOXICOLOGY (2024)

Summary: Oleanolic acid (OA) is a pentacyclic triterpene compound that causes cholestatic liver injury. This study found that OA inhibits FXR-mediated BSEP and MRP2, resulting in impaired bile acid efflux and disruption of tight junctions between liver cells, leading to liver damage. Activation of FXR and MRP2 mitigated OA-induced liver injury, while inhibition of BSEP and MRP2 further aggravated OA-induced liver injury.

JOURNAL OF APPLIED TOXICOLOGY (2024)

Summary: This study investigated the potential of metformin in reducing aluminum-induced neurotoxicity. It was found that metformin decreased oxidative stress markers, enhanced antioxidant defenses, modulated signaling pathways, reduced Tau protein levels, and promoted neurogenesis, offering a new therapeutic approach for AD.

JOURNAL OF APPLIED TOXICOLOGY (2024)

Summary: This study investigated the ability of nebivolol and its isomeric impurities to induce allergic reactions. They were found to activate mast cell degranulation and cause toe swelling in mice, with interactions between the compounds and key amino acids of MRGPRX2 revealed. This lays the foundation for enhancing the clinical safety of nebivolol.

JOURNAL OF APPLIED TOXICOLOGY (2024)

Summary: This study investigated the toxicity of 4-bromodiphenyl ether (BDE-3) on zebrafish larvae, including its effects on biochemistry, apoptosis, histopathology, ultrastructure, and biomolecules. The results showed that BDE-3 caused oxidative stress, decreased cell viability, and led to histopathological and biomolecular structural changes. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the toxic mechanism of less brominated diphenyl ethers and provide valuable information for environmental risk assessment.

JOURNAL OF APPLIED TOXICOLOGY (2024)

Summary: This study investigated the changes in bile acid profiles during cholestasis and their association with liver injury. The findings suggest that alterations in bile acid profiles can serve as early markers for diagnosing cholestasis, with TCA showing high sensitivity for liver injury. Additionally, TCA exacerbates ANIT-induced liver injury. However, under physiological conditions, exogenous TCA does not cause liver damage.

JOURNAL OF APPLIED TOXICOLOGY (2024)

Summary: This study evaluated the anticancer effects of piceatannol on human neuroblastoma cells, and found that it could inhibit cell proliferation, colony formation and invasion, induce apoptosis and autophagy, reduce mitochondrial membrane potential, increase reactive oxygen species levels, and the expression levels of related genes also changed.

JOURNAL OF APPLIED TOXICOLOGY (2024)

Summary: This study investigated the oral toxicity of WS2 NSs to mouse intestines. The results showed that WS2 NSs did not cause pathological or ultrastructural changes in the intestines, and had minimal effects on trace element balance, autophagy, and lipid profiles, indicating a relatively high biocompatibility of WS2 NSs to the mouse intestine via the oral route.

JOURNAL OF APPLIED TOXICOLOGY (2024)

Summary: This study investigated the effects of three mammalian enzyme inducers on the expression of metabolizing enzymes in Xenopus laevis tadpoles, finding that they induced the expression of phase-I and phase-II enzymes in different patterns, and BNF treatment also increased the phase-II metabolic activity towards TH. These results suggest that certain enzyme inducers may affect the TH clearance rate in X. laevis tadpoles, providing new insights into the indirect effects of hepatic enzyme induction on the thyroid system in nonmammalian species.

JOURNAL OF APPLIED TOXICOLOGY (2024)

Summary: This article focuses on AMI and its treatment, noting that PCI may lead to MIRI, and oxidative stress and inflammation are important mechanisms of MIRI. Natural compounds have potential in reducing MIRI, and the article reviews the relevant mechanisms and roles to provide a reference for drug development.

JOURNAL OF APPLIED TOXICOLOGY (2024)

Summary: This passage mainly introduces the application, controversy and adverse effects on the liver of food additive E171 (titanium dioxide). E171 is commonly used in food and other fields, but its risk assessment has not been completed. Studies have shown that it has dose-dependent toxicity in different organs, which can lead to changes such as liver inflammation, and its toxicity varies depending on factors such as organs and physicochemical characteristics. Oral administration is an important exposure route.

JOURNAL OF APPLIED TOXICOLOGY (2024)

Summary: This study analyzed the composition of soil leaching liquor from a coking plant in Taiyuan and its developmental toxicity to zebrafish. The results showed that the leaching liquor contains a variety of harmful substances, which can cause damage to the development of zebrafish larvae. Metabolomics analysis also showed that the leaching liquor can induce metabolic profile disturbances in zebrafish embryos/larvae, and its developmental toxicity may be related to the abnormal embryonic development of zebrafish induced by the leaching liquor.

JOURNAL OF APPLIED TOXICOLOGY (2024)

Summary: This study investigated the As-induced inflammatory response and its underlying molecular mechanisms, as well as the anti-inflammatory effects of tannic acid. The results showed that As exposure could induce an inflammatory response, while tannic acid could attenuate the inflammatory response by suppressing ROS production and ERK/NF-κB signaling pathway activation.

JOURNAL OF APPLIED TOXICOLOGY (2024)