**3.1 Use of cosmetics and PCPs and feminine diseases**

Over the years and in parallel with the change in people's habits and lifestyle, numerous evidence has revealed that cosmetics could cause a variety of disease conditions in humans. For instance, women are suspected to have a greater risk for some chronic conditions such as obesity and metabolic syndrome than men [60], and in addition to physiological differences between genders, the greater female consumption of cosmetics and PCPs might also underlie this enhanced risk. Moreover, the consumption of cosmetics and PCPs might also be beyond the development of female-specific diseases such as breast or ovarian cancer. In this regard, Darbre [61]


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*Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals in Cosmetics and Personal Care Products and Risk…*

first alarmed scientific community about the potential effect of PCPs in breast cancer, suggesting that underarm cosmetic use might increase breast cancer. In fact, they detected a variety of EDCs including PBs in breast tumors, with higher concentrations in those samples from the axilla region, suggesting that their concentrations might be related to the application of deodorant products, body lotions, sprays, moisturizers, and sunscreen products in areas close to the human breast. However, current evidence on the relationship between cosmetic/PCP use and risk of cancer is not very conclusive. In this regard, in a case-control study comprised by 209 cases of breast cancer and 209 healthy controls, Linhart and Talasz [62] reported that the greater use of underarm cosmetic products was associated with increased risk of breast cancer. Contrary, a cohort study did not found any association between use of skincare products and risk of cancer of the breast and endometrium [63]. Another study carried out by McGrath [64] reported that those women with a higher use of antiperspirant products were diagnosed with breast cancer at an earlier age. Furthermore, it has been observed that long-term exposure to body care creams containing ethinyl estradiol may increase the risk of abnormal genital bleeding and breast cancer [65]. Interestingly, a case-report study found that synthetic hormones found in lotions used by the mother were present in very high concentrations in the hair of the girl [66]. However, the variety of products and differences in dosage, patterns of use, and individual susceptibility to specific product formulations pose great difficulties to detect a potential effect of cosmetic and PCP habits on human adverse effects [36, 61, 67–69]. Thus, the use of internal burden of EDCs seems to better reflect the magnitude of cosmetic and PCP use, independently of the type of product used or the dose applied. In this regard, urinary levels of PBs have been related to greater risk for breast cancer [70]. Some studies have also addressed the potential association between exposure to PCP-released EDCs and the origin and development of other female diseases. In this regard, the presence of trace levels of PBs was found in endometrial tissue samples suspected of being related to an increased risk of endometrial carcinoma [71]. Levels of PrP were also related to diminished ovarian reserve in a prospective cohort study of the US women seeking fertility treatment [72]. Regarding the development of sex characteristics during puberty, a recent study observed associations between levels of PBs and earlier development of the breasts and the pubic hair in girls. Moreover, earlier

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.93091*

menarche was also related to higher levels of PBs [73].

women, as well as to reduced fetal growth [74].

linked to decreased fertility in women [79, 83].

Regarding BPs, *in vitro* studies have shown that exposure to BPs in rats and mice has been related to feminized sexual behavior and increased uterine weight [39, 74]. Two *in vivo* studies have also demonstrated the disturbance caused by BP in ovarian tissue [75, 76]. Santamaría and Abud [75] found that exposure to BP-1 and BP-3 disrupted early events in ovarian cells, such as germ cell development and disruption of crucial gene expression related to follicular assembly. Similarly, Shin and Go [76] reported the induction of BP-dependent metastasis in an *in vivo* model for ovarian cancer. Moreover, an epidemiological study has reported that urinary BP levels might be associated with blood pressure during pregnancy [77]. Similarly, higher BP levels were related to thyroid hormones and growth factors in pregnant

Other hormonally active chemicals widely used in cosmetics are phthalates. Exposure to various congeners has been associated with the appearance of various female diseases. Exposure to di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate has been linked to an increased risk of preterm delivery [78–80] and intrauterine growth restriction [81]. Furthermore, it has also been associated with reduced total oocyte yield and a reduced probability of achieving pregnancy and live birth [82]. Other phthalate congeners, such as monoethyl phthalate and dibutyl phthalate, have also been
