Exposure Scenarios of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals

Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Convention Center 

Feminine hygiene products are indispensable daily necessities used throughout a woman's reproductive years, from puberty to menopause. With the growing demand for these products, a wide range of options is now available on the market, including non-bleached, scented, cooling, and organic varieties. However, some research suggests that some of these products may contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), such as phthalates, parabens, bisphenols, triclocarban, and allergic fragrances, which can be absorbed through the skin and potentially lead to adverse health effects.

In today's workforce, extended working hours are common work, particularly in healthcare, manufacturing, and service industries. For many women, such working conditions reduce the opportunities to change feminine hygiene products regularly. Prolonged use of feminine hygiene products not only increases discomfort and infection risk but also lengthens the duration of exposure to EDCs present in these products. Therefore, it is essential to evaluate EDC exposure among female workers engaged in long shifts.

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National Science and Technology Council, R.O.C. (NSTC), Taipei, Taiwan (project number: 114-2314-B-002-109) 

Exposure Assessment