EFFECT OF ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS (BISPHENOLS, PARABENS, TRICLOSAN) AND POTENTIALLY TOXIC AND ESSENTIAL CHEMICAL ELEMENTS ON THE BIRTH, INFERTILITY AND OVARIAN CANCER IN SLOVENIA

Endocrine disruptors are chemical substances that are present in a contaminated environment, enter the hormonal system in humans, and can cause various problems, including infertility, birth defects, developmental abnormalities and cancer. Adverse effects can occur during fetal development in the uterus. Of particular concern are the negative effects of endocrine disruptors at the epigenetic level, which can result in developmental abnormalities that may be transmitted to subsequent generations. Endocrine disruptors include bisphenols, parabens and triclosan. Bisphenol A (BPA) is an integral part of polycarbonate plastics, which are widely used on a daily basis as plastic packaging for food/drink storage and as an ingredient in epoxy coatings. In June 2017, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) formally confirmed that BPA has endocrine disrupting properties and is therefore listed as a concern. Compared to the relatively large number of BPA studies, research on other bisphenols has remained limited. The poorly researched parabens and triclosan, however, have been widely used as inhibitors of microorganisms and preservatives in cosmetics, personal care products and pharmaceuticals. Important environmental pollutants also include potentially toxic elements (Cd, Pb, Hg, As), and new questions are raised regarding the lack of essential elements (e.g., Se) in humans. The first biomonitoring of BPA content in the urine of the general population, that is, children, their mothers and fathers (Snoj Tratnik et al., 2019) has already been carried out in Slovenia, and their exposure to BPA in the environment (Sarigiannis et al., 2019) has been assessed, but the study did not include aspects of infertility and ovarian cancer in women. At the population level, a study was also conducted to assess the association between the incidence of premature ovarian failure (POI) and some factors of social and physical environment. Significant differences in the incidence of POI were found between different geographical regions in Slovenia (Gersak et al., 2020); endocrine disruptors may be involved. The purpose of this research project is to connect experts in reproductive medicine and environmental sciences and biomonitoring endocrine disruptors (bisphenols, parabens, triclosan) and potentially toxic and essential chemical elements in the urine, blood and ascites of women involved in clinical programs for the treatment of infertility and ovarian cancer, and answer questions about whether endocrine disruptors and chemical elements are related to ovarian function, premature ovarian failure (POI) and ovarian cancer in Slovenia. The concentrations of endocrine disruptors in the urine, blood and ascites of patients included in the program of infertility treatment and patients treated for ovarian cancer will be compared with the concentrations in the urine and blood of healthy women who give birth at a maternity hospital; in childbirth women, a possible link between endocrine disruptors and chemical elements in biological samples (urine, blood, breast milk) and often unexplained preterm birth and assisted reproduction will be searched. In all women, the analysis of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), a major indicator of ovarian function and oxidative stress in the blood will identify the potential toxic effects of endocrine disruptors on the function of the ovaries and ovarian follicles. We will also investigate the toxicity of BPA at the molecular level of human ovarian follicles (follicular cells, oocytes) and the protective role of the methyl donor – folic acid, which in perspective is shown to be important for reducing the toxic effect of endocrine disruptors in women. A specific questionnaire will be answered by women to search the links between endocrine disruptors and chemical elements in biological samples, premature ovarian failure and ovarian cancer with region of residence, lifestyle and exposure to environmental pollutants.