Emily S. Barrett

Feb 21, 2025 | nature.com | Patricia Greenberg |Adana A. Llanos |Emily S. Barrett |Kylie Getz |Karolin Wadie |Taina Moore

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

Feb 6, 2025 | nature.com | Brennan H. Baker |Theo K. Bammler |Emily S. Barrett |Nicole R. Bush |Brent R. Collett |Daniel A. Enquobahrie | +10 more

Despite evidence linking prenatal acetaminophen (APAP) exposure and adverse neurodevelopment in humans and animals, over half of pregnant women in most populations use APAP. Prior studies could be biased by inaccurate self-reported APAP use, and the molecular mechanisms linking prenatal APAP with adverse neurodevelopment are unknown. Here we estimated associations between maternal plasma biomarkers of APAP exposure, child attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and placental gene expression in 307 African American mother–child pairs. Overall, detection of APAP in second trimester plasma was associated with higher odds for child ADHD diagnosis (odds ratio of 3.15 (95% confidence interval 1.20 to 8.29)). Prenatal APAP exposure and ADHD were associated with placental upregulation of immune system pathways in females and downregulation of oxidative phosphorylation in both sexes. In females only, prenatal APAP was associated with 5.22% higher odds (0.0456–13.1%) of ADHD statistically, mediated through increased immunoglobulin heavy constant gamma 1 (IGHG1) expression. These results highlight placental molecular mechanisms that may underlie developmental toxicity of prenatal APAP exposure. In this study, the authors report that maternal plasma biomarkers of acetaminophen exposure during pregnancy were associated with an increased risk of a diagnosis of child attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The findings suggest that acetaminophen exposure impacts immune pathways and oxidative phosphorylation, potentially mediating neurodevelopmental risks.