Evaluating personal care product use by Environmental Working Group hazard scores in relation to consumers’ sociodemographic characteristics, purchasing behaviors, and product safety perceptions

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 21, 2025

Personal care products (PCPs) are a source of environmental chemical exposures. Little research has examined the specific PCPs people use, hazards posed by those PCPs, and factors informing PCP selection. To examine used in relation to sociodemographic factors, purchasing behaviors, perceptions about safety. In cross-sectional, university-based sample (NJ, USA, N = 593), participants reported on sociodemographics, behaviors perceptions, use last 24-48 h (including brand product name). Those were linked hazard scores (1=least hazardous, 10=most hazardous) Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep® database. For each participant, we calculated average across all category (e.g., haircare, skincare) evaluated with high (7-10). We fitted adjusted regression models examining associations participants' scores. Of 9349 unique participants, 68% matched Deep®. Average varied participant characteristics age) for perfumes/colognes, beauty, skin products. The relative risk (RR) recent hair score was twice as non-Hispanic Black women compared White (RR:1.99; 95%CI:1.37, 2.89). Frequent healthy apps (β -0.49, 95%CI:-0.77, -0.21), reading ingredient labels -0.26; 95%CI:-0.82, -0.30), seeking eco-friendly -0.17; 95%CI:-0.36, -0.01) associated lower Results beauty similar. Concerns health impacts regulation using can contain numerous endocrine disrupting carcinogenic chemicals. U.S. sample, factors. Participant apps) safety they used. Our findings suggest that education tools inform choice may help consumers choose safer potentially, reduce

Language: Английский

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A Personalized Intervention to Increase Environmental Health Literacy and Readiness to Change in a Northern Nevada Population: Effects of Environmental Chemical Exposure Report-Back

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 21(7), P. 905 - 905

Published: July 11, 2024

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

Language: Английский

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

Environmental Health Perspectives, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 132(11)

Published: Nov. 1, 2024

In environmental epidemiology, we use an array of tools from various, related disciplines to answer key questions about exposures in relation health outcomes. Typically, ask what, who, where, when, and how. We value these because they contribute novel scientific discovery our understanding disease etiology linked exposures. addition, help us better understand who might be at highest risk exposure subsequent disease. Although necessary for the goals are insufficient addressing disparities. Specifically, may able describe exposure-health outcome associations but limited their ability move beyond identification intervening on observed disparities achieve equity.

Language: Английский

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Cohort profile: the Environmental Reproductive and Glucose Outcomes (ERGO) Study (Boston, Massachusetts, USA) — a prospective pregnancy cohort study of the impacts of environmental exposures on parental cardiometabolic health

BMJ Open, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(5), P. e079782 - e079782

Published: May 1, 2024

Purpose Pregnancy and the postpartum period are increasingly recognised as sensitive windows for cardiometabolic disease risk. Growing evidence suggests environmental exposures, including endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), associated with an increased risk of pregnancy complications that long-term However, impact perinatal EDC exposure on subsequent post-pregnancy is less understood. The Environmental Reproductive Glucose Outcomes (ERGO) Study was established to investigate associations exposures during parental health. Participants Pregnant individuals aged ≥18 years without pre-existing diabetes were recruited at <15 weeks gestation from Boston, Massachusetts area hospitals. completed ≤4 prenatal study visits (median: 12, 19, 26, 36 gestation) 1 visit 9 weeks), which we collected biospecimens, health histories, demographic behavioural data, vitals anthropometric measurements. a fasting 2-hour 75 g oral glucose tolerance test. Clinical data abstracted electronic medical records. Ongoing (as 2024) extended follow-up occur annually following similar collection protocols. Findings date We enrolled 653 unique pregnancies retained 633 through delivery. had mean age 33 years, 10% (n=61) developed gestational 8% (n=50) pre-eclampsia. Participant urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations glycaemic biomarkers quantified. To date, studies within ERGO found higher phthalates mixtures, separately, radioactive ambient particulate matter, adverse outcomes. Additionally, certain personal care products used in pregnancy, notably hair oils, concentrations, earlier delivery lower birth weight. Future plans work will leverage longitudinal outcomes, questionnaires, banked biospecimens paediatric Study.

Language: Английский

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PERHLs of Wisdom: Environmental Reproductive Health Literacy and Phthalates

Environmental Health Perspectives, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 132(6)

Published: June 1, 2024

Most tools that measure environmental health literacy are broad in nature. Researchers have now developed a tool specific to phthalate awareness and behaviors as they relate reproductive health.

Language: Английский

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Exploring associations between the Phthalate Environmental Reproductive Health Literacy (PERHL) scale & biomarkers of phthalate exposure: A pilot study

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: July 17, 2024

Perinatal exposure to phthalates is associated with adverse health impacts for parents and children. The field of environmental literacy seeks measure how information conceptualized used inform behaviors. We assessed whether scores on the validated Phthalate Environmental Reproductive Health Literacy (PERHL) scale were biomarkers phthalate exposure.

Language: Английский

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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

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 21(12), P. 1571 - 1571

Published: Nov. 26, 2024

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists provided updated guidance in 2021, recommending that reproductive health professionals should include discussion environmental exposures with their patients. However, is seldom included medical training, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, such as phthalates—linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes—being among the least discussed. We developed a one-hour virtual educational intervention train on routes phthalate exposure, potential associated impacts, suggestions how discuss exposure reduction was designed perspectives from patients, scientists, clinicians. Using pre/post/post design, we evaluated impact professionals’ phthalate-related literacy via validated (EHL) scale, confidence discussing phthalates, frequency discussions about phthalates All materials, including study questionnaires were administered virtually (n = 203) currently seeing patients working United States. After completing intervention, average EHL increased (pre-course: 22.3, post-course: 23.7, 2 months 24.0), did 1% (2/203) reported being quite confident, 64% (131/203) post course: 86% (174/203) confident). Additionally, rose substantially 0% (0/203) usually (175/203) patients): In line recommendations Gynecologists, this online tool shifted clinical care toxicant.

Language: Английский

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