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n this research, a review of the literature was conducted to identify possible associations between exposure to toxic substances and racial disparities in women's health, such as breast cancer, endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, uterine fibroids, and premature birth.

Environmental pollutants are generally divided into three categories: persistent organic pollutants (POPs), endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), and heavy metals. POPs are chemicals that are not easily metabolized and exhibit a long half-life of more than 10 years. Due to their ability to bioaccumulate in adipose tissue, they can be biomagnified within the food chain; Therefore, the body burden of toxic substances tends to increase with age in both humans and animals.

Boston University's Slone Epidemiology Center examined the data and found that the incidence of fibroids was 65% higher among women with PCOS than among those without PCOS.

Uterine fibroids are the most common benign smooth muscle neoplasm of the female reproductive system, and up to 70% of women develop this disease during menopause.

Research suggests that exposure to environmental pollutants increases the risk of breast cancer, endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, uterine fibroids, and preterm birth in women, as demonstrated in Table 1.

Ancestral history of toxic exposure in combination with a woman's lifetime exposure history may influence the development and severity of the disease. However, the disproportionate exposure of women of color to EDCs, POPs, and heavy metals supports the influence of these compounds on the racial disparity in women's health conditions. PCOS and preterm birth could contribute to a woman's susceptibility to the disease.

https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/3/1257 (2022).----

https://fibroids.com/blog/uterine-fibroids-and-polycystic-ovarian-syndrome-is-there-a-connection/ (2023).-----

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