To evaluate the association between exposure to plastic-related endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), specifically Bisphenol A (BPA), Phthalates, Cadmium, and Lead, and the risk of estrogen-dependent diseases (EDDs) such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, or endometrial cancer by conducting a meta-analysis of relevant studies. PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were used for literature retrieval of articles published until the 21st of April 2023. Literature that evaluated the association between BPA, phthalates, cadmium, and/or lead exposure and the risk of PCOS, endometriosis, or endometrial cancer development or exacerbation were included in our analysis. STATA/MP 17.0 was used for all statistical analyses. Overall, 22 articles were included in our meta-analysis with a total of 83,641 subjects all of whom were females aged between 18 and 83 years old. The overall effect size of each study was as follows: endometriosis risk in relation to BPA exposure ES 1.82 (95% CI; 1.50, 2.20). BPA and PCOS risk ES 1.61 (95% CI; 1.39, 1.85). Phthalate metabolites and endometriosis risk; MBP ES 1.07 (95% CI; 0.86, 1.33), MEP ES 1.05 (95% CI; 0.87, 1.28), MEHP ES 1.15 (95% CI; 0.67, 1.98), MBzP ES 0.97 (95% CI; 0.63, 1.49), MEOHP ES 1.87 (95% CI; 1.21, 2.87), and MEHHP ES 1.98 (95% CI; 1.32, 2.98). Cadmium exposure and endometrial cancer risk ES 1.14 (95% CI; 0.92, 1.41). Cadmium exposure and the risk of endometriosis ES 2.54 (95% CI; 1.71, 3.77). Lead exposure and the risk of endometriosis ES 1.74 (95% CI; 1.13, 2.69). Increased serum, urinary, or dietary concentration of MBzP and MEHP in women is significantly associated with endometriosis risk. Increased cadmium concentration is associated with endometrial cancer risk.

Background: The 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (HSD17B) family has been implicated in the prognosis and treatment prediction of various malignancies; however, its association with bladder cancer (BLCA) remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of HSD17B1, as a prognostic biomarker, for the survival of patients with BLCA and to determine ...

Thyroid homeostasis is essential for human health, and arsenic (As) and mercury (Hg) have drawn considerable attention due to their bioaccumulation and potential health risks. However, evidence on their thyroid-disrupting effects remains inconsistent and largely derived from cross-sectional studies, hindering causal inference and risk integration. Here, a meta-analysis was first conducted, which confirmed that both As (Cohen’s d = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.10, 0.81) and Hg (Cohen’s d = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.16, 0.65) exposure were associated with an increased risk of thyroid dysfunction. To further clarify temporality, we analyzed prospective cohort data from 800 adult women in Jiangsu, China. Results showed that As exposure was linearly and positively associated with free thyroxine (FT4) (β = 0.19, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.37), while Hg showed an inverted U-shaped dose–response relationship with FT4 levels. Based on the above epidemiological evidence, we further integrated in vivo and in vitro evidence from published related literature, applied the Targeted Risk Assessment for Environmental Chemicals (TRAEC, ver.1.1) strategy, and obtained final scores of 7.79 for As and 7.09 for Hg (out of 10), indicating a moderate level of thyroid-related health risk. Collectively, these findings suggest that As and Hg exposure may disturb thyroid function, supporting the need for targeted mitigation and further mechanistic research.