Systematic evidence mapping informs a class-based approach to assessing personal care products and pubertal timing

Kyla W Taylor; Kembra L Howdeshell; Paige A Bommarito; Christopher A Sibrizzi; Robyn B Blain; Kristen Magnuson; Courtney Lemeris; Wren Tracy; Donna D Baird; Chandra L Jackson; Symielle A Gaston; Cynthia V Rider; Vickie R Walker; Andrew A Rooney

doi:10.1016/j.envint.2023.108307

Systematic evidence mapping informs a class-based approach to assessing personal care products and pubertal timing

Environ Int. 2023 Nov:181:108307. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108307. Epub 2023 Nov 4.

Affiliations

¹ National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA. Electronic address: kyla.taylor@nih.gov.
² National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA.
³ ICF, Reston, VA, USA.
⁴ National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA; National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, USA.

PMID: 37948866
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108307

Abstract

Background: Personal care products (PCPs) contain many different compounds and are a source of exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), including phthalates and phenols. Early-life exposure to EDCs commonly found in PCPs has been linked to earlier onset of puberty.

Objective: To characterize the human and animal evidence on the association between puberty-related outcomes and exposure to PCPs and their chemical constituents and, if there is sufficient evidence, identify groups of chemicals and outcomes to support a systematic review for a class-based hazard or risk assessment.

Methods: We followed the OHAT systematic review framework to characterize the human and animal evidence on the association between puberty-related health outcomes and exposure to PCPs and their chemical constituents.

Results: Ninety-eight human and 299 animal studies that evaluated a total of 96 different chemicals were identified and mapped by key concepts including chemical class, data stream, and puberty-related health outcome. Among these studies, phthalates and phenols were the most well-studied chemical classes. Most of the phthalate and phenol studies examined secondary sex characteristics and changes in estradiol and testosterone levels. Studies evaluating PCP use and other chemical classes (e.g., parabens) had less data.

Conclusions: This systematic evidence map identified and mapped the published research evaluating the association between exposure to PCPs and their chemical constituents and puberty-related health outcomes. The resulting interactive visualization allows researchers to make evidence-based decisions on the available research by enabling them to search, sort, and filter the literature base of puberty-related studies by key concepts. This map can be used by researchers and regulators to prioritize and target future research and funding to reduce uncertainties and address data gaps. It also provides information to inform a class-based hazard or risk assessment on the association between phthalate and phenol exposures and puberty-related health outcomes.

Keywords: Chemical class; Personal care products; Phenols; Phthalates; Puberty; Systematic evidence map.

Publication types

Systematic Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Endocrine Disruptors*
Environmental Exposure
Humans
Phenol
Phenols / toxicity
Phthalic Acids*
Sexual Maturation

Substances

Endocrine Disruptors
Phenol
Phenols
phthalic acid
Phthalic Acids