Occurrence of parabens and their metabolites in the paired urine and blood samples from Chinese university students: Implications on human exposure

Hua Zhang; Qiang Quan; Xiaowei Li; Wenjing Sun; Kairui Zhu; Xiao Wang; Xufang Sun; Meixiao Zhan; Weiguo Xu; Ligong Lu; Jun Fan; Yunfei Gao

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2020.109288

Occurrence of parabens and their metabolites in the paired urine and blood samples from Chinese university students: Implications on human exposure

Environ Res. 2020 Apr:183:109288. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109288. Epub 2020 Feb 22.

Authors

Hua Zhang¹, Qiang Quan², Xiaowei Li¹, Wenjing Sun¹, Kairui Zhu³, Xiao Wang¹, Xufang Sun⁴, Meixiao Zhan⁵, Weiguo Xu⁵, Ligong Lu⁶, Jun Fan⁷, Yunfei Gao⁸

Affiliations

¹ Zhuhai Precision Medical Center, Zhuhai People's Hospital (Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan University), Jinan University, Zhuhai, 519000, Guangdong, PR China; The Biomedical Translational Research Institute, Jinan University Faculty of Medical Science, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, PR China.
² Radiotherapy Department of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, Cancer Center, First People's Hospital of Foshan Affiliated to Sun Yat-sen University, Foshan, 528000, PR China.
³ Department of Orthopedics, First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, PR China.
⁴ Department of Intensive Care Unit, Jinan Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, PR China.
⁵ Zhuhai Precision Medical Center, Zhuhai People's Hospital (Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan University), Jinan University, Zhuhai, 519000, Guangdong, PR China.
⁶ Zhuhai Precision Medical Center, Zhuhai People's Hospital (Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan University), Jinan University, Zhuhai, 519000, Guangdong, PR China. Electronic address: lu_ligong@163.com.
⁷ Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, PR China. Electronic address: fanjun@jnu.edu.cn.
⁸ Zhuhai Precision Medical Center, Zhuhai People's Hospital (Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan University), Jinan University, Zhuhai, 519000, Guangdong, PR China; The Biomedical Translational Research Institute, Jinan University Faculty of Medical Science, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, PR China. Electronic address: tyunfeigao@jnu.edu.cn.

PMID: 32311914
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109288

Abstract

Parabens, a group of p-hydroxybenzoic acid esters, are extensively used in cosmetics, personal care products, pharmaceuticals, and foodstuff. In the present study, the total forms (free plus conjugated) of four parent parabens, such as methylparaben (MeP), ethylparaben (EtP), propylparaben (PrP), and butylparaben (BuP), and four metabolites, namely methyl protocatechuate (OH-MeP), ethyl protocatechuate (OH-EtP), p-hydroxy benzoic acid (4-HB), and 3,4-dihydroxy benzoic acid (3,4-DHB), were detected in paired urine and blood samples collected from 196 Chinese university students. The median urinary and blood parabens and their metabolites concentrations ranged from 0.24 to 167 ng/mL and from <0.02 to 2.88 ng/mL, respectively. MeP was the predominant parent parabens, accounting for 68% and 52% of urine and blood samples, respectively. Furthermore, 4-HB predominantly contributed to the parabens and their metabolites in urine (54%) and blood (41%). Significant positive correlations were observed between the urinary levels and blood levels. Moreover, relatively high levels of parabens and their metabolites were detected in urine samples. Our results imply that urinary concentrations are good predictors of human exposure to parabens and metabolites. Gender-related difference in urinary concentrations of parabens and their metabolites were found. The median urinary levels of the tested compounds in females were significantly higher than those in males (Mann Whitney U test, p < 0.05 or 0.01). The estimated daily intakes (EDIs) of MeP, EtP, and PrP were also evaluated. The median values of EDI_MeP, EDI_EtP, and EDI_PrP for all of the university students were estimated to be 25.9, 1.61, and 3.82 μg/kg bw/day, respectively. The median values (μg/kg bw/day) of EDI_MeP, EDI_EtP, and EDI_PrP were higher in females (53.7, 8.65, and 5.22) than in males (8.41, 0.85, and 2.57). This study is the first study to report the occurrence of parabens and their metabolites in paired urine and blood samples in China.

Keywords: Blood; Distribution; Estimated daily intake; Metabolites; Parabens; Urine.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

China
Cosmetics*
Environmental Exposure
Female
Humans
Male
Parabens* / analysis
Students*
Universities

Substances

Cosmetics
Parabens