Meeting Abstract
Many personal care products contain endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs). These compounds can occur naturally (e.g., phytoestrogens) or can be synthetic (e.g., ultraviolet filters and phthalates). Many EDCs agonize estrogen receptors (ERs), thereby stimulating expression of estrogen-sensitive genes; such EDCs are said to be estrogenic. The objective of this study was to quantify the concentration of estrogenic compounds in a variety of sunscreens and moisturizers using the yeast estrogen screen (YES). The sunscreens selected for the study included products with both high and moderate sun protection factors (SPFs). Two strains of recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae that expressed the alpha or beta isoforms of human nuclear estrogen receptor (ER) were used to quantify ER agonism in ethanol extracts of 42 sunscreens and moisturizers, each of which was measured in triplicate. Estrogenic compounds in a sample activated ERs, resulting in the dose-dependent expression of the reporter gene, beta-galactosidase. This enzyme then cleaved a colorimetric substrate and produced a product that ranged from yellow to red, with the degree of color change corresponding to the concentration of estrogenic compounds present. Of the 42 products tested, over half were positive for the presence of estrogenic compounds. The results of this study indicate that many popular sunscreens and moisturizers contain estrogenic EDCs and suggest that caution is warranted when using such products.
