Uncovering Evidence: Associations between Environmental Contaminants and Disparities in Women’s Health

Jelonia T. Rumph, Victoria R. Stephens, Joanie L. Martin, LaKendria K. Brown, Portia L. Thomas, Ayorinde Cooley, Kevin G. Osteen and Kaylon L. Bruner-Tran
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Jelonia T. Rumph: Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Physiology, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN 37208, USA
Victoria R. Stephens: Women’s Reproductive Health Research Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
Joanie L. Martin: Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Physiology, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN 37208, USA
LaKendria K. Brown: Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Physiology, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN 37208, USA
Portia L. Thomas: Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Physiology, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN 37208, USA
Ayorinde Cooley: Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Physiology, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN 37208, USA
Kevin G. Osteen: Women’s Reproductive Health Research Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
Kaylon L. Bruner-Tran: Women’s Reproductive Health Research Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 3, 1-22

Abstract: Over the years, industrial accidents and military actions have led to unintentional, large-scale, high-dose human exposure to environmental contaminants with endocrine-disrupting action. These historical events, in addition to laboratory studies, suggest that exposure to toxicants such as dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls negatively impact the reproductive system and likely influence the development of gynecologic diseases. Although high-level exposure to a single toxicant is rare, humans living in industrialized countries are continuously exposed to a complex mixture of manmade and naturally produced endocrine disruptors, including persistent organic pollutants and heavy metals. Since minorities are more likely to live in areas with known environmental contamination; herein, we conducted a literature review to identify potential associations between toxicant exposure and racial disparities in women’s health. Evidence within the literature suggests that the body burden of environmental contaminants, especially in combination with inherent genetic variations, likely contributes to previously observed racial disparities in women’s health conditions such as breast cancer, endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, uterine fibroids, and premature birth.

Keywords: women’s health; environmental contaminants; pollution; health disparities; minorities (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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