Plastic-related endocrine disrupting chemicals significantly related to the increased risk of estrogen-dependent diseases in women

Natasha Chitakwa; Mohammed Alqudaimi; Mazhar Sultan; Di Wu

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2024.118966

Plastic-related endocrine disrupting chemicals significantly related to the increased risk of estrogen-dependent diseases in women

Environ Res. 2024 Apr 18;252(Pt 2):118966. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118966. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Natasha Chitakwa¹, Mohammed Alqudaimi¹, Mazhar Sultan², Di Wu³

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China; State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, 101 Longmian Road, Nanjing, 211166, China.
² Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
³ Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China; State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, 101 Longmian Road, Nanjing, 211166, China. Electronic address: diwu@njmu.edu.cn.

PMID: 38640992
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118966

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the association between exposure to plastic-related endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), specifically Bisphenol A (BPA), Phthalates, Cadmium, and Lead, and the risk of estrogen-dependent diseases (EDDs) such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, or endometrial cancer by conducting a meta-analysis of relevant studies.

Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were used for literature retrieval of articles published until the 21st of April 2023. Literature that evaluated the association between BPA, phthalates, cadmium, and/or lead exposure and the risk of PCOS, endometriosis, or endometrial cancer development or exacerbation were included in our analysis. STATA/MP 17.0 was used for all statistical analyses.

Results: Overall, 22 articles were included in our meta-analysis with a total of 83,641 subjects all of whom were females aged between 18 and 83 years old. The overall effect size of each study was as follows: endometriosis risk in relation to BPA exposure ES 1.82 (95% CI; 1.50, 2.20). BPA and PCOS risk ES 1.61 (95% CI; 1.39, 1.85). Phthalate metabolites and endometriosis risk; MBP ES 1.07 (95% CI; 0.86, 1.33), MEP ES 1.05 (95% CI; 0.87, 1.28), MEHP ES 1.15 (95% CI; 0.67, 1.98), MBzP ES 0.97 (95% CI; 0.63, 1.49), MEOHP ES 1.87 (95% CI; 1.21, 2.87), and MEHHP ES 1.98 (95% CI; 1.32, 2.98). Cadmium exposure and endometrial cancer risk ES 1.14 (95% CI; 0.92, 1.41). Cadmium exposure and the risk of endometriosis ES 2.54 (95% CI; 1.71, 3.77). Lead exposure and the risk of endometriosis ES 1.74 (95% CI; 1.13, 2.69).

Conclusion: Increased serum, urinary, or dietary concentration of MBzP and MEHP in women is significantly associated with endometriosis risk. Increased cadmium concentration is associated with endometrial cancer risk.

Keywords: BPA; Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs); Estrogen-dependent diseases (EDDs); Lead; PCOS; endometriosis.