title: A review of hair product use on breast cancer risk in African American women.
abstract: The incidence rate of breast cancer for African American women has recently converged with that of non-Hispanic White women in the United States, although African Americans have a higher mortality rate due to this disease. Although most research exploring health disparities associated with this phenomenon has focused on differences between women based on biology and behavior, both the academic and lay communities have begun to explore the potential role of environmental exposure to estrogen and endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). This study reviews the current state of the science associating one such means of exposure, hair products containing EDCs, with breast cancer risk in African American women. We found a growing body of evidence linking: (1) environmental estrogen and EDC exposures to breast cancer risk, (2) the presence of such chemicals in personal care products, including hair products, and (3) the use of certain hair products with potential breast cancer risk in African Americans. At the same time, there is also increasing concern in the lay community about this risk. These results indicate the need for additional research, and the opportunity to benefit from strategic partnerships in community-collaborative approaches in order to better understand the potential "cost of beauty."
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Work and Social Ecology, Loma Linda University, San Bernardino, California.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3609-8340
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stiel
authors.affiliation: Asante Wellness, LLC, Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Paris B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Adkins-Jackson
authors.affiliation: Healthy Heritage, Riverside, California.
authors.forename: Phyllis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.affiliation: Quinn Community Outreach Corporation, Moreno Valley, California.
authors.forename: Eudora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.affiliation: School of Behavioral Health, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Montgomery
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006203:Hair Preparations / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D010226:Parabens / Q000009:adverse effects; D010795:Phthalic Acids / Q000009:adverse effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D016387:Women's Health
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D006203:Hair Preparations; D010226:Parabens; D010795:Phthalic Acids; C032279:phthalic acid
keywords: African Americans; breast neoplasms; hair; health status disparities; women's health