BACKGROUND: Exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can result in alterations of natural hormones in the body. The aim of this review article is to highlight the knowledge about EDCs and obesity.
METHODS: A scoping review of the electronic literature was performed using PubMed platform for studies on EDCs and obesity published between the years 2013-2023. A total of 10 systematic reviews and meta-analysis studies met our inclusion criteria on more prominent EDCs focusing mainly on bisphenols, including parabens, triclosan, and phthalates, and their association with obesity.
METHODS: Scoping review.
RESULTS: EDCs, mostly bisphenols and phthalates, are related to health effects, while there is less information on the impact of parabens and triclosan. A series of negative physiological effects involving obesogenic, diabetogenic, carcinogenic, and inflammatory mechanisms as well as epigenetic and microbiota modulations was related to a prolonged EDCs exposure. A more profound research of particular pollutants is required to illuminate the accelerating effects of particular EDCs, mixtures or their metabolites on the mechanism of the development of obesity.
CONCLUSIONS: Considering the characteristics of EDCs and the heterogeneity of studies, it is necessary to design specific studies of effect tracking and, in particular, education about daily preventive exposure to EDCs for the preservation of long-term public health.

Bisphenols (BPs) and parabens (PBs) are of great concern for environmental pollution and human health because of their endocrine-disrupting effects and potential health hazards. Urinary biomonitoring of BPs and PBs can provide basic data for human internal exposure evaluation, which is a prerequisite for accurately assessing their health risks. In this study, we developed a new pretreatment procedure based on solid supported liquid-liquid extraction (SLE) for the simultaneous separation of ten BPs and five PBs in human urine, followed by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) analysis. In the instrumental analysis, the HPLC conditions and MS/MS parameters were comprehensively optimized. Accurate qualitative and quantitative determination of ten BPs and five PBs was achieved by introducing a ternary gradient elution system of water, methanol, and acetonitrile for LC separation. During sample pretreatment, the extraction solvent and elution volume were optimized. Specifically, urine samples were held at room temperature and centrifuged at 3000 r/min for 10 min. The supernatant (2 mL) was then transferred to a glass tube, and the pH was adjusted to 5.0 using HCl (0.5 mL; 0.1 mol/L) and NaAc-HAc buffer (1.5 mL). Thereafter, β-glucuronidase-arylsulfatase (20 μL) and surrogate standard solutions (10 ng;13C12-BPS,13C12-BPAF,13C6-MeP, and 13C6-BuP) were added, and the mixture was incubated in a shaker bath in the dark at 37 ℃ for 16 h. After incubation, the hydrolyzed sample (4 mL) was loaded onto an SLE cartridge and equilibrated for a minimum of 5 min to ensure the solution was completely absorbed by the packing material. Subsequently, the target chemicals were eluted with a mixed ethyl acetate/n-hexane solution (3∶7, v/v; 15 mL). Separation of the targets was performed on a ZORBAX SB-C18 reversed-phase column (250 mm×4.6 mm, 5 μm) using an acetonitrile-methanol-water system as the mobile phase. The method was verified by spiking mixed urine samples at three levels (1, 5, and 50 μg/L), with the recoveries ranging from 84.3% to 119.8%. Except for bisphenols (BPS), whose matrix effect was calculated as -21.8%, the matrix effects of other analytes were lower than 20%, indicating low matrix interference. The linear ranges of the analytes varied from 0.1-500 μg/L to 1-500 μg/L, with correlation coefficients higher than 0.995. The method limits of quantification for target chemicals ranged from 0.03 to 0.30 μg/L, and the relative standard deviations of intra- and inter-day experiments were 1.4%-8.4% and 5.7%-14.6%, respectively, suggesting high stability and reproducibility. The method was successfully applied to the determination of ten BPs and five PBs in 10 urine samples from a general population. The concentrations of target chemicals in the human urine samples varied. Methylparaben (MeP), ethylparaben (EtP), propylparaben (PrP), and bisphenol A (BPA) were detected in all samples, with median mass concentrations of 1.10, 0.60, 0.21, and 0.55 μg/L, respectively. The detection rates of the other chemicals were less than 50%, which may be related to the production and use of specific chemicals, their bioavailability, and biological metabolism in humans.

The present study aims to investigate the current trends in replacing conventional preservatives with multifunctional ingredients with antimicrobial properties for preservation of cosmetics for infants or sensitive population, to decrease their potential for contact dermatitis. We first reviewed the labels of cosmetics purchased from the Chinese market for conventional preservatives and multifunctional ingredients with antimicrobial properties, of which the actual contents were further quantified by chromatographic methods. We identified 7 traditional preservatives (phenoxyethanol, benzoic acid (salts), methylparaben, benzyl alcohol, sorbic acid (salts), propylparaben, and methylisothiazolinone), and 11 alternative ingredients with antimicrobial activities (ethylhexylglycerin, butylene glycol, caprylyl glycol, propylene glycol, 1,2-hexanediol, p-anisic acid, hydroxyacetophenone, pentylene glycol, decylene glycol, caprylhydroxamic acid, and aminomethyl propanol) in descending order of prevalence. The contents of all identified preservatives and ingredients were either below regulatory limits or in the range that is generally regarded to be safe. Further challenge with microorganisms indicated irrespective of the composition of preservation systems, product preservation could be compromised under test conditions. We conclude that multifunctional ingredients with antimicrobial properties in cosmetics have the potential to completely replace or significantly reduce the use of traditional preservatives while retaining comparative preservative efficacy. Future attentions may need to be shifted to the safety of those multifunctional ingredients with antimicrobial properties.

UNASSIGNED: Phenols and parabens are two classes of high production volume chemicals that are used widely in consumer and personal care products and have been associated with reproductive harm and pregnancy complications, such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes. However, studies examining their influence on maternal blood pressure and gestational hypertension are limited.
UNASSIGNED: We investigated associations between individual phenols, parabens, and their mixture on maternal blood pressure measurements, including systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) and hypertension during pregnancy (defined as stage 1 or 2 hypertension), among N=1,433 Puerto Rico PROTECT study participants.
UNASSIGNED: We examined these relationships cross-sectionally at two time points during pregnancy (16-20 and 24-28 wks gestation) and longitudinally using linear mixed models (LMMs). Finally, we used quantile g-computation to examine the mixture effect on continuous (SBP, DBP) and binary (hypertension during pregnancy) blood pressure outcomes.
UNASSIGNED: We observed a trend of higher odds of hypertension during pregnancy with exposure to multiple analytes and the overall mixture [including bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol S (BPS), triclocarbon (TCC), triclosan (TCS), benzophenone-3 (BP-3), 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP), 2,5-dichlorophenol (2,5-DCP), methyl paraben (M-PB), propyl paraben (P-PB), butyl paraben (B-PB), and ethyl paraben (E-PB)], especially at 24-28 wk gestation, with an adjusted mixture odds ratio(OR)=1.57 (95% CI: 1.03, 2.38). Lower SBP and higher DBP were also associated with individual analytes, with results from LMMs most consistent for methyl paraben (M-PB) or propyl paraben (P-PB) and increased DBP across pregnancy [adjusted M-PB β=0.78 (95% CI: 0.17, 1.38) and adjusted P-PB β=0.85 (95% CI: 0.19, 1.51)] and for BPA, which was associated with decreased SBP (adjusted β=-0.57; 95% CI: -1.09, -0.05). Consistent with other literature, we also found evidence of effect modification by fetal sex, with a strong inverse association observed between the overall exposure mixture and SBP at visit 1 among participants carrying female fetuses only.
UNASSIGNED: Our findings indicate that phenol and paraben exposure may collectively increase the risk of stage 1 or 2 hypertension during pregnancy, which has important implications for fetal and maternal health. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP14008.

Tobacco flavors are extensively utilized in traditional tobacco products, electronic nicotine, heated tobacco products, and snuff. To inhibit fungal growth arising from high moisture content, preservatives such as benzoic acid (BA), sorbic acid (SA), and parabens are often incorporated into tobacco flavors. Nonetheless, consuming preservatives beyond safety thresholds may pose health risks. Therefore, analytical determination of these preservatives is crucial for both quality assurance and consumer protection. For example, BA and SA can induce adverse reactions in susceptible individuals, including asthma, urticaria, metabolic acidosis, and convulsions. Parabens, because of their endocrine activity, are classified as endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Despite extensive research, the concurrent quantification of trace-level hydrophilic (BA and SA) and hydrophobic (methylparaben, ethylparaben, isopropylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, isobutylparaben, and benzylparaben) preservatives in tobacco flavors remains challenging. Traditional liquid phase extraction coupled with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) often results in high false positive rates and inadequate sensitivity. In contrast, tandem mass spectrometry offers high sensitivity and specificity; however, its widespread application is limited by laborious sample preparation and significant operational costs. Therefore, it is crucial to establish a fast and sensitive sample pretreatment and analysis method for the nine preservatives in tobacco flavors. In this study, a method for the simultaneous determination of the nine preservatives (SA, BA and seven parabens) in tobacco flavor was established based on three phase-hollow fiber-liquid phase microextraction (3P-HF-LPME) technology combined with HPLC. To obtain the optimal pretreatment conditions, extraction solvent type, sample phase pH, acceptor phase pH, sample phase volume, extraction time, and mass fraction of sodium chloride, were examined. Additionally, the HPLC parameters, including UV detection wavelength and mobile phase composition, were refined. The optimal extraction conditions were as follows: dihexyl ether was used as extraction solvent, 15 mL sample solution (pH 4) was used as sample phase, sodium hydroxide aqueous solution (pH 12) was used as acceptor phase, and the extraction was carried out at 800 r/min for 30 min. Chromatographic separation was accomplished using an Agilent Poroshell 120 EC-C18 column (100 mm×3 mm, 2.7 μm) and a mobile phase comprising methanol, 0.02 mol/L ammonium acetate aqueous solution (containing 0.5% acetic acid), and acetonitrile for gradient elution. Under the optimized conditions, the nine target analytes showed good linear relationships in their respective linear ranges, the correlation coefficients (r) were ≥0.9967, limits of detection (LODs) and quantification (LOQs) were 0.02-0.07 mg/kg and 0.08-0.24 mg/kg, respectively. Under two spiked levels, the enrichment factors (EFs) and extraction recoveries (ERs) of the nine target analytes were 30.6-91.1 and 6.1%-18.2%, respectively. The recoveries of the nine target analytes ranged from 82.2% to 115.7% and the relative standard deviations (RSDs) (n=5) were less than 14.5% at low, medium and high levels. The developed method is straightforward, precise, sensitive, and well-suited for the rapid screening of preservatives in tobacco flavor samples.

BACKGROUND: Interventions are needed to help people reduce exposure to harmful chemicals from everyday products and lifestyle habits. Report-back of individual exposures is a potential pathway to increasing environmental health literacy (EHL) and readiness to reduce exposures.
OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to determine if report-back of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can reduce EDC exposure, increase EHL, and increase readiness to change (i.e., to implement EDC exposure-reduction behaviors).
METHODS: Participants in the Healthy Nevada Project completed EHL and readiness-to-change surveys before (n = 424) and after (n = 174) a report-back intervention. Participants used mail-in kits to measure urinary biomarkers of EDCs. The report-back of results included urinary levels, information about health effects, sources of exposure, and personalized recommendations to reduce exposure.
RESULTS: EHL was generally very high at baseline, especially for questions related to the general pollution. For questions related to chemical exposures, responses varied across several demographics. Statistically reliable improvements in EHL responses were seen after report-back. For readiness to change, 72% were already or planning to change their behaviors. Post-intervention, women increased their readiness (p = 0.053), while men decreased (p = 0.007). When asked what challenges they faced in reducing exposure, 79% cited not knowing what to do. This dropped to 35% after report-back. Participants with higher propylparaben were younger (p = 0.03) and women and participants who rated themselves in better health had higher levels of some phthalates (p = 0.02-0.003 and p = 0.001-0.003, respectively). After report-back, monobutyl phthalate decreased among the 48 participants who had valid urine tests before and after the intervention (p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: The report-back intervention was successful as evidenced by increased EHL behaviors, increased readiness to change among women, and a decrease in monobutyl phthalate. An EHL questionnaire more sensitive to chemical exposures would help differentiate high and low literacy. Future research will focus on understanding why men decreased their readiness to change and how the intervention can be improved for all participants.

Parabens (PBs) are used as preservatives in various products. They pollute the environment and penetrate living organisms, showing endocrine disrupting activity. Till now studies on long-term exposure of farm animals to PBs have not been performed. Among matrices using in PBs biomonitoring hair samples are becoming more and more important. During this study concentration levels of methyl paraben (MeP), ethyl paraben (EtP), propyl paraben (PrP) butyl paraben (BuP) and benzyl paraben (BeP) were evaluated using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) in hair samples collected from dairy cows bred in the Kyrgyz Republic. MeP was noted in 93.8% of samples (with mean concentration levels 62.2 ± 61.8 pg/mg), PrP in 16.7% of samples (12.4 ± 6.5 pg/mg) and EtP in 8.3% of samples (21.4 ± 11.9 pg/mg). BuP was found only in one sample (2.1%) and BeP was not detected in any sample included in the study. Some differences in MeP concentration levels in the hair samples depending on district, where cows were bred were noted. This study has shown that among PBs, dairy cows are exposed mainly to MeP, and hair samples may be a suitable matrix for research on PBs levels in farm animals.

UNASSIGNED: Parabens, which are chemicals used as preservatives in cosmetic and pharmaceutical products, have been reported to be associated with low sperm quality in animal and human models. Despite the high exposure of men to paraben-containing products in Nigeria, there are no known studies that investigate the association of parabens with sperm quality in the country.
UNASSIGNED: To determine the association of urinary levels of metabolites of parabens with sperm count and quality.
UNASSIGNED: A multicenter case-control study among fertile and infertile men in five hospitals in southern Nigeria. A total of 136 men diagnosed with male infertility (cases) were compared with 154 controls with normal fertility. Urinary levels of parabens (ethyl-paraben, methylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben) were measured using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry, while semen analysis and hormone assays were carried out using World Health Organization standards and radioimmunoassay, respectively. Data were analyzed with non-parametric statistics and non-parametric linear regression.
UNASSIGNED: The results showed high levels of parabens in both cases and controls. However, there was no statistically significant difference in urinary levels of ethyl-paraben, methylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben between cases and controls. In contrast, propylparaben had a decreasing association with total motility in both groups, but the effect was only statistically significant in the case of male infertility. The results of the regression analysis showed that a unit increase in propylparaben significantly decreased total motility in the cases (infertile men). Similarly, a unit increase in propylparaben decreased morphology significantly in the unadjusted model for infertile men. Only serum testosterone showed an insignificant correlation with urinary parabens.
UNASSIGNED: We conclude that urinary parabens are associated with features of poor sperm quality - motility, morphology, and volume. Measures to reduce exposure of men to agents containing parabens in Nigeria may reduce the prevalence of male infertility in the country.

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown an association between hair product use and adverse health outcomes. Scientists have hypothesized that exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) drives these associations, but few studies have directly evaluated associations between hair product use and biomarkers of EDCs. Even more limited are studies of Black women, who frequently use EDC-containing products (e.g., hair relaxers).
OBJECTIVE: We estimated associations between hair product use and EDC biomarker concentrations.
METHODS: We leveraged cross-sectional data from the Study of Environment, Lifestyle, and Fibroids, a cohort of females aged 23-34 years who self-identified as Black/African American from the Detroit-metropolitan area (USA; n = 425). On structured questionnaires, participants reported their past 24-h and past 12-month use of hair products, including relaxers/straighteners/perms, styling products, moisturizers, oils, and hair food. We quantified urinary concentrations of 19 phthalate/phthalate alternative metabolites, 7 phenols, and 4 parabens using high performance liquid chromatography isotope dilution tandem mass spectrometry. EDC biomarker concentrations were creatinine-adjusted and natural log-transformed. We used multivariable linear regression to estimate mean percent differences in EDC biomarker concentrations and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) associated with hair product use, adjusting for sociodemographic confounders.
RESULTS: Hair product use was associated with greater concentrations of multiple EDC biomarkers. Notably, use of hair products in the previous 24 h (compared with non-use) was associated with 16.2% (95% CI = 0.7%, 35.9%), 35.0% (95% CI = 2.6%, 77.6%), and 32.3% (95% CI = 8.8%, 92.0%) higher concentrations of mono-isobutyl phthalate, methyl paraben, and ethyl paraben, respectively. Use of hair relaxers/straighteners/perms, styling products, moisturizers, oils, and hair food in the past 12 months was also associated with higher concentrations of multiple phthalate, phenol, and paraben biomarkers.
CONCLUSIONS: Hair product use was associated with higher biomarker concentrations of multiple phthalates, phenols, and parabens. These findings suggest that hair products are potentially important exposure sources for hormonally-active chemicals among Black women.

The research on new compounds against plant pathogens is still socially and economically important. It results from the increasing resistance of pests to plant protection products and the need to maintain high yields of crops, particularly oilseed crops used to manufacture edible and industrial oils and biofuels. We tested thirty-five semi-synthetic hydrazide-hydrazones with aromatic fragments of natural origin against phytopathogenic laccase-producing fungi such as Botrytis cinerea, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, and Cerrena unicolor. Among the investigated molecules previously identified as potent laccase inhibitors were also strong antifungal agents against the fungal species tested. The highest antifungal activity showed derivatives of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and salicylic aldehydes with 3-tert-butyl, phenyl, or isopropyl substituents. S. sclerotiorum appeared to be the most susceptible to the tested compounds, with the lowest IC50 values between 0.5 and 1.8 µg/mL. We applied two variants of phytotoxicity tests for representative crop seeds and selected hydrazide-hydrazones. Most tested molecules show no or low phytotoxic effect for flax and sunflower seeds. Moreover, a positive impact on seed germination infected with fungi was observed. With the potential for application, the cytotoxicity of the hydrazide-hydrazones of choice toward MCF-10A and BALB/3T3 cell lines was lower than that of the azoxystrobin fungicide tested.