Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals in Cosmetics and Personal Care Products and Risk of Endometriosis

Abstract

In the last years, the variety and consumption of cosmetics and personal care products (PCPs) have greatly increased, although the long-term adverse effects to low doses of chemicals used in their production and with proven hormone-mimicking properties have been still poorly addressed. Among these endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), parabens, benzophenones, bisphenols, and phthalates are the most widely found in these products. Given the estrogenic-dependent nature of the endometrium, it has been hypothesized the potential contribution of these EDCs contained in cosmetics and PCPs in the risk of endometriosis. In this book chapter, we have summarized the current evidence supporting this hypothesis, highlighting epidemiological, in vivo, and in vitro studies that have addressed the potential influence of parabens, benzophenones, bisphenols, and phthalates in the origin and progression of this chronic feminine disease.