Methylparaben (MPB) and triclosan (TCS) are two environmental phenols commonly found in personal care products such as shampoos, toothpastes, and hand sanitizers. Although we are exposed to them a great deal, we have little understanding of how they impact humans differently at critical stages of development.

Published in the January 2017 issue of Environmental Research, researchers examined the effects of MPB and TCS on the histology (microscopic structure) and transcriptome (set of RNA transcripts that are produced by the genome) of normal mammary glands at low doses similar to those that humans are exposed to. Researchers exposed rats to MPB and TCS from birth to lactation, as well as perinatal, prepubertal and pubertal windows and found window-specific effects of exposure. Additionally, some evidence was found suggesting possible links to breast carcinogenesis.

Given the ubiquitous nature of these environmental chemicals and the suspicious effects on mammary glands, caution in the use of these chemicals is warranted.

[Source: Environmental Research]