Women working in the personal care industry are exposed to a wide range of chemicals throughout their careers, but little is currently known about the potential combined effects of these products on their health and even on the health of their offspring.

To address this gap, Professor Isabelle Plante, a toxicologist at the Biotechnology Research Center of the National Scientific Research Institute (INRS) in Quebec, recently launched a major study that is currently recruiting participants from across the province.

Plante stated, "The hypothesis of this project is to determine whether working with a variety of molecules present in products we use every day, or constant exposure to them, may have an impact on our health."

Products such as shampoos, conditioners, hair dyes, varnishes, and makeup contain synthetic molecules that can interfere with hormonal functions, known as "endocrine disruptors."

This can lead to a range of health issues, including problems with growth, fertility, and pregnancy, as well as an increased risk of breast cancer.

The amount of hair and beauty products that hairstylists, beauticians, and others handle on a daily basis increases their exposure to these substances.

Moreover, these women are exposed to a wide range of products containing multiple destructive molecules. When combined, it cannot be ruled out that these different molecules may interact with each other and cause other unwanted effects.

This potential "synergistic effect," about which little is currently known, particularly concerns Plante.

She said, "We have regulations stating, for example, that one cannot be exposed to more than one milligram of triclosan daily." "But these regulations apply to each product individually. So yes, there is a limit for product A, a limit for product B, a limit for product C. However, these three products can be combined. These three products can be present at the same time in women who use them, and we really don't know the effect of this mixture on their health."

She added that it is possible for the effects of products A, B, and C to be cumulative, and that "one plus one plus one no longer equals three, but suddenly produces five or six, because there is a magnification effect in the end."

The first phase of the project consists of assessing the general health of participants through a questionnaire that specifically investigates their reproductive health, menstrual cycle, difficulties they faced (or did not face) in pregnancy, and so on.

Women interested in participating further will then be asked to provide urine samples, which will be analyzed in the laboratory to determine the substances they are exposed to.

The study will go beyond that by looking at the health of offspring, as the harmful effects of exposure to endocrine disruptors can be passed from one generation to another. Thus, the study could help better protect the health of these women's children and grandchildren.

Plante stated, "For example, estrogen and progesterone are two extremely important hormones in women." "So the fact that we are exposed to many of these endocrine disruptors every day can have very significant effects on our reproductive health."

Scientific literature already shows that women working in the beauty industry experience greater fertility problems and that these women are the primary users of products containing endocrine disruptors.

Plante said, "What is less understood is whether one is the cause of the other, or what the relationship is between the two."

The researcher said, "Some studies have found effects, while others have found less." "But we believe the problem lies in that they (the studies) will look at one molecule in isolation and not at all the molecules, hence the synergistic effect that all these products can have. And that is new for us."