BACKGROUND:Chemicals in haircare products have been linked with endocrine disruption, reproductive health harm, and carcinogenicity. As consumers transition to less chemically intensive hairstyles, they may seek out the "clean" hair product landscape. While large retailers such as Target have created "clean" branded sections to potentially improve transparency for consumers in a complex marketplace, there are no regulatory guidelines defining "clean" and the "clean" haircare market has not been systematically assessed for potential health and safety concerns. OBJECTIVE:To assess ingredient hazards within the "clean" textured (curly, wavy, coily) haircare product landscape. METHODS:We web-scraped ingredient lists and other associated information for 150 products for textured hair from the "clean" category on the website for a specific Target store in South Los Angeles. We screened the ingredients for 18 chemicals of health concern (e.g., fragrance, phthalates) and linked the products to the Environmental Working Group's (EWG) Skin Deep® database to determine a product hazard score (1=least hazardous, 10=most hazardous). RESULTS:Seventy percent of products listed fragrance, an ingredient category of concern given limited ingredient transparency. Only 62 (41%) of products were listed in the EWG's Skin Deep® beauty product catalog and over 90% of listed products were classified by EWG as a 'moderate' risk to human health (product hazard scores between 3 and 6). SIGNIFICANCE:These findings suggest that people who seek to manage natural hairstyles while avoiding exposure to harmful chemicals, navigate a confusing and unregulated marketplace. Inadequate federal regulation ensuring safety of personal care products does not ensure the safety of products in newer markets of "clean" branded products. Our findings suggest that harmonization of a definition of "clean" should be integrated across industry, from manufacturing to retail given existing inconsistencies that can create challenges for consumers who try to avoid harmful ingredients. IMPACT:There is a growing market of "clean" branded beauty products such as Target's "clean" beauty lines, which market products that exclude ingredients of concern, and thus potentially increase transparency for consumers. By analyzing 150 products for textured haircare found online at a Target store in Los Angeles and by linking products to EWG's Skin Deep® database hazard scores, we find limitations of such labeling schemes, including the continued existence of hazardous chemicals, potentially misleading marketing language, some inconsistent labeling, and potential negative impacts linked to racial and ethnic identities. Our findings underscore the need for consistency and transparency in labeling products as "clean" to reduce consumer uncertainty and improve product safety.

BACKGROUND:Indoor exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) may contribute substantially to total PFAS exposure, yet few studies characterize indoor concentrations of precursor PFAS. OBJECTIVE AND METHODS:We conducted a pilot study targeting 46 ionic and neutral PFAS in vacuumed dust from 20 low-income owner-occupied homes in Rochester, New York. RESULTS:Forty-three PFAS were detected; polyfluoroalkyl phosphate esters (PAPs), fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs), and perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) were detected in every sample. The highest median concentrations were 6:2 diPAP (755 ng/g), 6:2 FTOH (77.5 ng/g), and 6:2/8:2 diPAP (36.2 ng/g). Median PFAS concentrations differed by housing characteristics, although not significantly, with higher concentrations of PFCAs and lower PAPs in carpeted homes, and higher FOSEs, PFCAs, and PFSAs in homes with more upholstered furniture. IMPACT:Under-studied PFAS, including important precursors, are prevalent in the indoor environment, and their levels are linked to housing characteristics. The ubiquity of PFAS mixtures indoors supports the need for class-based regulation.

Formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasing preservatives (FRPs) are used in personal care products (PCPs) to prevent microbial growth and extend the shelf life. Several countries and U.S. states have banned or restricted the use of these chemicals due to carcinogenicity and other health concerns. However, the prevalence of these chemicals in PCPs used by the public, particularly by Black women and Latinas, remains poorly documented. We examined the prevalence of formaldehyde and FRPs listed as ingredients on PCPs from the Taking Stock Study (TSS), a community-engaged study in which 70 Black women and Latinas in South Los Angeles logged their PCP use with a smartphone application. We contextualized our results using EPA's Chemical and Products Database (CPDat), a public ingredient database. More than half of the TSS participants (53%) reported using at least one PCP with formaldehyde or FRPs despite only 4% of TSS PCPs and 8% of CPDat PCPs listing formaldehyde and/or FRPs as ingredients. We found formaldehyde and FRPs listed in frequently used products such as lotions and cleansers. The most common FRP was 1,3-dimethylol-5,5-dimethylhydantoin (DMDM) hydantoin. These results could inform the types of regulations needed to protect the U.S. population from adverse health risks due to formaldehyde exposure from PCP use.

Upholstered furniture has been a major source of flame retardant (FR) exposures in the United States. However, the California update to furniture flammability standards has allowed compliance without relying on chemical additives. We investigated whether FR biomarkers would decrease in participants who replaced furniture foam or upholstered furniture with items manufactured after the policy change. Building off previous work demonstrating decreased dust FR concentrations after furniture replacement, we collected urine and blood from 25 participants prior to furniture replacement and approximately one year after and from a comparison group (n = 28) over a similar time frame. Serum was analyzed for 19 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and urine for 3 metabolites of organophosphate FRs (OPFRs). For BDE-47, BDE-99, and BDE-100, time to decline by half was 1.9-3.9 times longer in the comparison group than the replacement group (equivalent to 1.4 years (median) in the replacement group versus 2.6-5.2 years in the comparison group). For BDE-153, times to decline by half were not significantly different. For OPFR metabolites, which are excreted within days after exposure, concentration changes were much more variable. Nonsignificant greater decreases were seen for bis(1,3-dichloroisopropyl) phosphate in the replacement group and for diphenyl phosphate in the comparison group, whereas concentrations remained level or increased for bis(2-chloroethyl) phosphate. Moderate positive correlations were observed for baseline PBDE concentrations with baseline dust concentrations (ρ = 0.58-0.60); OPFRs were less correlated. Magnitudes of change were mostly positively correlated between dust and biomarker concentrations but not significant. Overall, results indicate that updated flammability standards can reduce FR exposures.

Background:Black women are disproportionately affected by hormone-related health conditions, which may result from higher exposures to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in consumer products. EDCs are chemicals that interfere with the body's natural hormones. Objective:The Product Options in Women-Engaged Research project was developed to educate Black women about EDCs. We assessed the impact of strategic social media influencer (SMI) communication on knowledge and awareness of EDCs and intentions to change product-use behaviors. Methods:We recruited 7 SMIs to engage with their audiences about EDC-related information on Instagram. The SMIs attended a workshop to learn about EDCs in consumer products and then created Instagram content to share with their audiences. We surveyed SMIs at baseline and 1 month after they shared EDC-related content. SMI audiences were surveyed cross-sectionally before and after the SMIs posted EDC-related social media content. We evaluated social media engagement and analyzed the impact of these communications on SMIs and their audience. Results:The social media posts reached over 16,000 accounts and elicited over 28,000 engagements (eg, views, likes, and shares). SMIs' EDC knowledge and awareness increased after attending the workshop and sharing newly created content, and the SMIs had greater intentions to avoid EDCs at follow-up than at baseline. Engagement with the social media content about EDCs also led to positive outcomes among SMI audiences and particularly impacted intentions to engage in exposure reduction behaviors. In total, 80% of follow-up survey respondents reported that, in the future, they will always consider a company's chemical policy (n=68) and product ingredients when shopping (n=73) compared to 26.8% (n=63) and 46.9% (n=115), respectively, of baseline survey respondents who already reported doing so (P<.001). More follow-up respondents than baseline respondents self-reported an intention to avoid parabens (n=33, 32.7% vs n=39, 15.3%; P<.001), bisphenol A (n=25, 24.8% vs n=38, 14.9%; P=.03), per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (n=17, 16.8% vs n=9, 3.5%; P<.001), and fragrance (n=6, 5.9% vs n=5, 2.0%; P=.08). Conclusions:Our findings demonstrate that strategic SMI partnerships incorporating a culturally tailored training program can be used to reach large audiences of Black women, improve knowledge about EDCs, and promote intentions to change behaviors to reduce exposures to EDCs.

Background: Personal care products (PCPs) are a significant source of environmental chemical exposures among women of color. Prior studies suggest that individuals may reduce their exposures by avoiding certain ingredients while shopping; however, the efficacy of this strategy has not been evaluated in Black and Hispanic/Latina women. Methods: Through a community-academic partnership, 70 Black and Hispanic/Latina women living in South Los Angeles (1) reported product selection strategies, (2) documented their product use for 1 week using a smartphone app, and (3) provided urine samples that were analyzed for 28 chemicals commonly found in PCPs. We investigated associations between product selection strategies (e.g., avoiding products with fragrances) and urinary chemical concentrations. Results: We detected phthalate metabolites, benzophenone-3, parabens, and chlorinated phenols in nearly all participants. Black women (100%) were more likely than Hispanic/Latina women (66%) to report selecting products based on ingredients. Fragrance was reported as the most avoided ingredient among all women followed by parabens among Black women and bisphenol A among Hispanic/Latina women. Avoiding chemicals while shopping was associated with lower urinary concentrations of certain chemicals. For example, Black women who reported avoiding fragranced products had significantly lower median concentrations of monoethy l phthalate, a metabolite of fragrance ingredient diethyl phthalate, than women who did not report avoiding fragranced products (avoider = 95.0 ng/mL; non-avoider = 276 ng/mL; p = 0.03). Conclusion: While individual-level behavior change can help shift chemical exposures among Black and Hispanic/Latina women, advocacy for safer chemicals and ingredient transparency is needed to achieve health equity.

Bromochloro alkanes (BCAs) have been manufactured for use as flame retardants for decades, and preliminary environmental risk screening suggests they are likely to behave similarly to polychlorinated alkanes (PCAs), subclasses of which are restricted as Stockholm Convention Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). BCAs have rarely been studied in the environment, although some evidence suggests they may migrate from treated-consumer materials into indoor dust, resulting in human exposure via inadvertent ingestion. In this study, BCA-C14 mixture standards were synthesized and used to validate an analytical method. This method relies on chloride-enhanced liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-Orbitrap-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-Orbitrap-HRMS) and a novel CP-Seeker integration software package for homologue detection and integration. Dust sample preparation via ultrasonic extraction, acidified silica cleanup, and fractionation on neutral silica cartridges was found to be suitable for BCAs, with absolute recovery of individual homologues averaging 66 to 78% and coefficients of variation ≤10% in replicated spiking experiments (n = 3). In addition, a total of 59 indoor dust samples from six countries, including Australia (n = 10), Belgium (n = 10), Colombia (n = 10), Japan (n = 10), Thailand (n = 10), and the United States of America (n = 9), were analyzed for BCAs. BCAs were detected in seven samples from the U.S.A., with carbon chain lengths of C8, C10, C12, C14, C16, C18, C24 to C28, C30 and C31 observed overall, though not detected in samples from any other countries. Bromine numbers of detected homologues in the indoor dust samples ranged Br1-4 as well as Br7, while chlorine numbers ranged Cl2-11. BCA-C18 was the most frequently detected, observed in each of the U.S.A. samples, while the most prevalent degrees of halogenation were homologues of Br2 and Cl4-5. Broad estimations of BCA concentrations in the dust samples indicated that levels may approach those of other flame retardants in at least some instances. These findings suggest that development of quantification strategies and further investigation of environmental occurrence and health implications are needed.

Bromochloro alkanes (BCAs) are a class of flame retardants similar in structure to polychlorinated alkanes (PCAs), which are the major component of short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) listed as Persistent Organic Pollutants under the Stockholm Convention. BCAs have recently been detected for the first time in environmental samples. Due to the complete lack of commercially available analytical standards, no method for quantifying BCAs has been reported to date. In this study, 16 custom-synthesised standards with mixed bromine and chlorine halogenation and carbon chain lengths ranging from C10 to C17 were characterized by liquid chromatography and Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry and used to assess the applicability of pattern deconvolution quantification strategies for BCAs in indoor dust. Br1-9 and Cl1-8 BCAs were detected as [M + Cl]- adduct ions among the C10 to C17 standards, as well as numerous PCA homologues. After applying correction factors to account for the presence of PCAs in the standards, triplicate fortification experiments using varied halogenation composition and concentration determined an average measurement accuracy of 81% over the carbon chain lengths studied and coefficient of variance ≤20% between replicates. Overall, approximately 89% of the ΣBCA concentrations quantified in the fortification trials met the European Union Reference Laboratory's accuracy acceptability criteria recommended for PCAs, between 50 and 150%. Application of the BCA pattern deconvolution quantification procedure to seven representative indoor dust samples from the United States of America revealed a low correlation between the homologue distribution in the samples and the prototype standards (R2 ≤ 0.40), which precluded reliable quantification. This study indicates that pattern deconvolution is an appropriate strategy for quantifying BCAs in environmental samples, but that a large set of appropriate mixture standards will be required before more reliable estimates of BCA concentrations can be achieved in indoor dust.

BACKGROUND:The prevalence of toxic chemicals in US commerce has prompted some states to adopt laws to reduce exposure. One with broad reach is California's Proposition 65 (Prop 65), which established a list of chemicals that cause cancer, developmental harm, or reproductive toxicity. The law is intended to discourage businesses from using these chemicals and to minimize consumer exposure. However, a key question remains unanswered: Has Prop 65 reduced population-level exposure to the listed chemicals? OBJECTIVE:We used national biomonitoring data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to evaluate the impact of Prop 65 on population-level exposures. METHODS:We evaluated changes in blood and urine concentrations of 37 chemicals (including phthalates, phenols, VOCs, metals, PAHs, and PFAS), among US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) participants in relation to the time of chemicals' Prop 65 listing. Of these, 11 were listed prior to, 11 during, and 4 after the biomonitoring period. The remaining 11 were not listed but were closely related to a Prop 65-listed chemical. Where biomonitoring data were available from before and after the date of Prop 65 listing, we estimated the change in concentrations over time for Californians compared with non-Californians, using a difference-in-differences model. We used quantile regression to estimate changes in exposure over time, as well as differences between Californians and non-Californians at the 25th, 75th, and 95th percentiles. RESULTS:We found that concentrations of biomonitored chemicals generally declined nationwide over time irrespective of their inclusion on the Prop 65 list. Median bisphenol A (BPA) concentrations decreased 15% after BPA's listing on Prop 65, whereas concentrations of the nonlisted but closely related bisphenol S (BPS) increased 20% over this same period, suggesting chemical substitution. Californians generally had lower levels of biomonitored chemicals than the rest of the US population. DISCUSSION:Our findings suggest that increased scientific and regulatory attention, as well as public awareness of the harms of Prop 65-listed chemicals, prompted changes in product formulations that reduced exposure to those chemicals nationwide. Trends in bisphenols and several phthalates suggest that manufacturers replaced some listed chemicals with closely related but unlisted chemicals, increasing exposure to the substitutes. Our findings have implications for the design of policies to reduce toxic exposures, biomonitoring programs to inform policy interventions, and future research into the regulatory and market forces that affect chemical exposure. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP13956.

Consumer products are important sources of exposure to harmful chemicals. Product composition is often a mystery to users, however, due to gaps in the laws governing ingredient disclosure. A unique data set that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) uses to determine how volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) from consumer products affect smog formation holds a partial solution. By analyzing CARB data on VOCs in consumer products, we identified and quantified emissions of volatile chemicals regulated under the California Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act ("Prop 65"). We here highlight individual chemicals as well as consumer product categories that people are likely to be exposed to as individual consumers, in the workplace, and at the population level. Of the 33 Prop 65-listed chemicals that appear in the CARB emissions inventory, we classified 18 as "top tier priorities for elimination". Among these, methylene chloride and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone were most prevalent in products across all three population groups. Of 172 consumer product categories, 105 contained Prop 65-listed chemicals. Although these chemicals are known carcinogens and reproductive/developmental toxicants, they remain in widespread use. Manufacturers and regulators should prioritize product categories containing Prop 65-listed chemicals for reformulation or redesign to reduce human exposures and associated health risks.

IntroductionUnited States consumers spend over two billion dollars a year on intimate care products. These products, along with scented menstrual products, are marketed for odor control, perceived “freshness,” and vaginal/vulvar cleanliness. However, these scent-altering products may increase exposure to carcinogenic and endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Prior research has not adequately characterized demographic differences in product use. The objective of our study is to examine racial/ethnic and educational differences in menstrual and intimate care product use among people who menstruate.MethodsWe pooled data from two US-based cross sectional studies to examine demographic characteristics and product use in 661 participants aged 18–54 years. Participants reported use of scented and unscented menstrual products (tampons, sanitary pads, and menstrual cups) and intimate care products (vaginal douches, sprays, wipes, and powders). We examined differences by race/ethnicity and education using log-binomial regression and latent class analysis (LCA), which can identify groups based on product use patterns.ResultsOur sample was 33.4% Black, 30.9% Latina, 18.2% White, and 16.2% another identity. Approximately half the population had a bachelor's degree or more; 1.4% identified as transgender and 1.8% as non-binary. In adjusted models, scent-altering products (i.e., scented menstrual and intimate care products) were more likely to be used by those with less formal education (p < 0.05). Unscented menstrual products were more likely to be used by those with more formal education. Compared to Black participants, White participants were more likely to use unscented tampons and menstrual cups and less likely to use douches and wipes (p < 0.05). Using LCA we identified two groups: one more likely to use scent-altering products, and a second more likely to use unscented menstrual products. Less education and older age, but not race/ethnicity, was significantly associated with membership in the group more likely to use scent-altering products. While sex/gender composition did not statistically vary across groups, all non-binary participants fell in the unscented menstrual product group.DiscussionLower educational attainment was consistently associated with greater use of scent-altering menstrual and intimate care products. Future research should examine associations between body odor stigma, product use, and health risks at intersections of race, class, and gender.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought new emphasis on indoor air quality. However, few studies have investigated the impact of air filtration, a COVID-mitigation approach, on indoor air concentrations of semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs). Using a quasi-experimental design, we quantified the impact of a relatively low-cost "do-it-yourself" air filter (Corsi-Rosenthal Box; CR Box) on indoor air concentrations of 42 PFAS and 24 other SVOCs. We sampled air before (October-November 2021) and during (February-March 2022) deployment of CR Boxes in 17 rooms located in an occupied Providence, Rhode Island office building. We measured sound levels in rooms with CR Boxes operating and not operating. While CR Boxes were deployed, concentrations of seven PFAS (N-EtFOSE, N-EtFOSA, FBSA, PFBS, PFHxS, PFOS, PFNA) were 28-61% lower and concentrations of five phthalates (DMP, DEP, DiBP, BBzP, DCHP) were 29-62% lower. Concentrations of five PFAS and one phthalate increased 23-44% during the intervention period, but the 95% CI of most of these estimates included the null. Daytime sound levels increased 5.0 dB when CR Boxes were operating. These results indicate that CR Boxes reduced exposure to several lower-volatility phthalates and sulfonated PFAS previously reported to be found in office building materials and products, with potentially distracting increases in sound levels.

In response to COVID-19, attention was drawn to indoor air quality and interventions to mitigate airborne COVID-19 transmission. Of developed interventions, Corsi-Rosenthal (CR) boxes, a do-it-yourself indoor air filter, may have potential co-benefits of reducing indoor air contaminant levels. We employed non-targeted and suspect screening analysis (NTA and SSA) to detect and identify volatile and semi-volatile organic contaminants (VOCs and SVOCs) that decreased in indoor air following installation of CR boxes. Using a natural experiment, we sampled indoor air before and during installation of CR boxes in 17 rooms inside an occupied office building. We measured VOCs and SVOCs using gas chromatography (GC) high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) with electron ionization (EI) and liquid chromatography (LC) HRMS in negative and positive electrospray ionization (ESI). We examined area count changes during vs. before operation of the CR boxes using linear mixed models. Transformed (log2) area counts of 71 features significantly decreased by 50-100% after CR boxes were installed (False Discovery Rate (FDR) p-value < 0.2). Of the significantly decreased features, four chemicals were identified with Level 1 confidence, 45 were putatively identified with Level 2-4 confidence, and 22 could not be identified (Level 5). Identified and putatively identified features (Level ≥4) that declined included disinfectants (n = 1), fragrance and/or food chemicals (n = 9), nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds (n = 4), organophosphate esters (n = 1), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (n = 8), polychlorinated biphenyls (n = 1), pesticides/herbicides/insecticides (n = 18), per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (n = 2), phthalates (n = 3), and plasticizers (n = 2).

In this study, very short-, short-, medium-, and long-chain chlorinated paraffins (vSCCPs, SCCPs, MCCPs and LCCPs, respectively) were measured in 40 indoor dust samples from four countries including Japan (n = 10), Australia (n = 10), Colombia (n = 10) and Thailand (n = 10). Homologues of the chemical formula CxH(2x+2_ y)Cly ranging C6-36 and Cl3-30 were analysed using liquid chromatography coupled to Orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-Orbitrap-HRMS) and integrated using novel custom-built CP-Seeker software. CPs were detected in all dust samples with MCCPs the dominant homologue group in all countries. Overall median n-ary sumation SCCP, n-ary sumation MCCP and n-ary sumation LCCP (C18-20) concentrations determined in dust samples were 30 & mu;g/g (range; 4.0-290 & mu;g/g), 65 & mu;g/g (range; 6.9-540 & mu;g/g) and 8.6 & mu;g/g (range; <1.0-230 & mu;g/g), respectively. Of the quantified CP classes, overall concentrations were generally highest in the samples from Thailand and Colombia, followed by Australia and Japan. vSCCPs with C & LE;9 were detected in dust from each country with an overall frequency of 48%, while LCCPs (C21-36) were present in 100% of samples. Estimated daily intakes (EDIs) calculated for SCCPs and MCCPs relating to ingestion of contaminated indoor dust were considered not to represent health risks based on currently available toxicological data using the margin of exposure (MOE) approach. To the authors' knowledge, this study provides the first data on CPs in indoor dust from Japan, Colombia and Thailand, and is among the first reports of vSCCPs in indoor dust, globally. These findings indicate that further toxicological data and the availability of appropriate analytical standards are needed to evaluate the potential for negative health outcomes deriving from exposure to vSCCPs and LCCPs.

Non-persistent endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), including phthalates and phenols, are ubiquitous in both the environment and human body. A growing body of epidemiologic studies have identified concerning links between EDCs and adverse reproductive and developmental health effects. Despite consistent evidence, risk assessments and policy interventions often arrive late. This presents an urgent need to identify evidence-based interventions for implementation at both clinical and community levels to reduce EDC exposure, especially in susceptible populations. The reproductive life cycle (menarche to menopause for females and after pubertal onset for males) includes some of the most vulnerable periods to environmental exposures, such as the preconception and perinatal stages, representing a key window of opportunity to intervene and prevent unfavorable health outcomes. This review aims to synthesize and assess behavioral, dietary, and residential EDC-driven interventions to develop recommendations for subsequent, larger-scale studies that address knowledge-gaps in current interventions during the reproductive life cycle. We selected 21 primary interventions for evaluation, in addition to four supplemental interventions. Among these, accessible (web-based) educational resources, targeted replacement of (known) toxic products, and personalization of the intervention through meetings and support groups, were the most promising strategies for reducing EDC concentrations. However, we document a paucity of interventions to prevent phthalate and phenol exposures during the reproductive years, especially among men. Accordingly, we recommend additional, larger clinical and community-based intervention studies to reduce EDC exposure. Specifically, future intervention studies should focus on short-term, mid-, and long-term exposure reduction to phthalates and phenols. The latter, especially, is required for the development of clinical and public health guidelines to promote reproductive and developmental health globally.

Background Individuals living in the same home may share exposures from direct contact with sources or indirectly through contamination of the home environment. Objective We investigated the influence of sharing a home on urine levels of ten phenolic chemicals present in some consumer products. Methods We used data from Silent Spring Institute’s Detox Me Action Kit (DMAK), a crowdsourced biomonitoring program in the US. Of the 726 DMAK participants, 185 lived in the same home with one or more other DMAK participants ( n = 137 pairs, up to six participants in a home). The concentration distributions included values below the detection limit so we used statistical methods that account for left-censored data, including non-parametric correlation estimation and hierarchical Bayesian regression models. Results Concentrations were significantly positively correlated between pair-members sharing a home for nine of the ten chemicals. Concentrations of 2,5-dichlorophenol were the most strongly correlated between pair-members (tau = 0.46), followed by benzophenone-3 (tau = 0.31) and bisphenol A (tau = 0.21). The relative contribution of personal product use reported product use of other household members (up to 5 others), and the residual contribution from a shared household, including exposures not asked about, varied by chemical. Paraben concentrations were largely influenced by personal behaviors whereas dichlorophenol and bisphenol concentrations were largely influenced by shared home exposures not related to reported behaviors. Significance Measuring the influence of personal and household practices on biomonitoring exposures helps pinpoint major sources of exposure and highlights chemical-specific intervention strategies to reduce them.

Indoor spaces contain several classes of persistent organic chemicals, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs). However, concentrations of PFAS and persistent chemical mixtures and their associations with building characteristics on college campuses are understudied. We collected dust from 43 nonresidential spaces on four U.S. college campuses in 2016 and evaluated associations of room characteristics (carpeting, upholstered furniture, and years since last furnished) with dust concentrations of PFAS, PBDEs, PCBs, and OCPs. Nine PFAS, twelve PBDEs, two PCBs, and four OCPs were each detected in at least 75% of the spaces, including several chemicals (e.g., DDT) that have been banned for decades. Concentrations were correlated within and, in some cases, between chemical classes. Wall-to-wall carpeting (compared to rooms without wall-to-wall carpeting) was associated with higher concentrations of six individual PFAS and a mixture of PFAS, and the number of pieces of upholstered furniture was associated with increased concentrations of a mixture of PBDEs. These findings indicate that carpeting and furniture are current sources of PFAS and PBDEs, respectively. Building and finish materials should be carefully selected to avoid exposure to persistent chemicals.

Upholstered furniture has been a major source of chemical flame retardant (FR) exposures in US homes since the 1970s. FRs are a large group of chemicals, many of which are associated with adverse health effects, including cancer, reproductive toxicity, and neurotoxicity. California homes have some of the highest dust concentrations of FRs, due to Technical Bulletin 117 (TB117), California’s outdated flammability standard for furniture foam that was generally followed across the US and Canada. In 2014, this standard was updated to a smolder standard for furniture fabric called TB117-2013, and it is no longer reliant on FRs. This update provided an opportunity to measure differences in FR dust levels in California homes before and after residents replaced older upholstered furniture, or its foam, with products that met the new standard and were expected to be FR-free. We collected dust from homes of participants who had plans to replace older upholstered furniture, or furniture foam, with FR-free options. We returned for follow-up dust collection six, 12, and 18 months following replacement. Concentrations of three polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) (BDE-47, BDE-99, BDE-100), three chlorinated organophosphate ester FRs (tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP), tris(2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate (TCIPP), and tris(1,3-dichloroisopropyl) phosphate (TDCIPP)), and one aryl organophosphate ester FR triphenyl phosphate (TPHP), were widely detected in participant homes. All measured FRs decreased in nearly all homes after the older upholstered furniture was replaced. The decreases in FRs were significant in both homes that replaced entire pieces of furniture and those that replaced only the furniture foam. This study demonstrates that replacing older upholstered furniture or foam significantly reduces concentrations of a range of FRs in the home. Foam replacement offers a potentially more economic alternative that produces a lower volume of waste.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The environmental injustice of beauty framework links intersectional systems of oppression (e.g. racism, sexism, classism) to racialized beauty practices and poor health outcome...

Background Personal care product use may contribute to elevated body burdens of consumer product chemicals among women of color; however, racial/ethnic differences in product use has been understudied. Community-engaged research can support the recruitment of diverse participants. Objective To document personal care product use among a diverse group of women (aged 18-34 years) living in California. Methods Through a community-academic partnership, we surveyed 357 women in California about product use information for 54 cosmetic, hair, menstrual/intimate care, and leave-on and rinse-off personal care products. We compared type and frequency of product use among Black, Hispanic/Latinx, Asian, and White women. We also summarized use of scented products and reasons women select products. Results Women reported using a median of 8 products daily, with some women reporting up to 30 products daily. Hispanic/Latinx and Asian women used more cosmetics, and Black women used more hair and menstrual/intimate products than other women. Of the 54 products compared, there were significant differences in use by race/ethnicity for 28 products, with the largest number of significant differences between Black and White women. Significance There is growing information on chemical exposures from personal care products and consequent adverse health effects, with implications for health disparities. Yet, there remains limited information on the range and types of products used by diverse racial/ethnic communities. This study helps close an important gap on product use inventories that can enable more informed public health interventions to limit exposures from personal care products.