title: Female college student awareness of exposures to environmental toxins in personal care products and their effect on preconception health.
abstract: This research study investigated college women's usage of personal care products and their views on health effects from exposures during the preconception period. Many personal care products and cosmetics contain chemical ingredients that have been known to disrupt human endocrine and neurological systems, and contribute to infertility and adverse birth outcomes. Seventy-two female college students from a single, medium-sized university campus completed a researcher-developed questionnaire. Findings provide insight into the daily exposures young women experience during their reproductive years. Results can inform occupational and environmental health nurses about the personal daily exposures of young women when conducting risk assessments in the workplace or at a school, and can aid in developing interventions that support the environmental health of employees or future employees.
authors.affiliation: Worcester State University chan508@charter.net.
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Worcester State University.
authors.forename: Stephanie M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Chalupka
authors.affiliation: Worcester State University.
authors.forename: Roseann
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Barrett
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001364:Awareness; D003358:Cosmetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D016742:Preconception Care; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003358:Cosmetics
keywords: cosmetics; environmental exposures; environmental toxins; personal care products; preconception or reproductive health