Occurrence, biomagnification, and risk assessment of parabens and their metabolites in marine fish: The case study of Vietnam

Thanh-Thien Tran-Lam; Anh-Tuyet Thi Phung; Phuong Thi Pham; Minh Quang Bui; Yen Hai Dao; Giang Truong Le

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140221

Occurrence, biomagnification, and risk assessment of parabens and their metabolites in marine fish: The case study of Vietnam

Chemosphere. 2023 Dec:344:140221. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140221. Epub 2023 Sep 21.

Authors

Thanh-Thien Tran-Lam¹, Anh-Tuyet Thi Phung², Phuong Thi Pham³, Minh Quang Bui⁴, Yen Hai Dao⁵, Giang Truong Le⁶

Affiliations

¹ Graduate University of Science and Technology (GUST), Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, 10000, Viet Nam; Institute of Mechanics and Applied Informatics, VAST, 291 Dien Bien Phu, Ward 7, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, 70000, Viet Nam.
² Graduate University of Science and Technology (GUST), Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, 10000, Viet Nam; Institute of Chemistry, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Hanoi, 10000, Viet Nam.
³ Institute of Chemistry, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Hanoi, 10000, Viet Nam; Faculty of Chemistry, University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, 19 Le Thanh Tong, Hanoi, 10000, Viet Nam.
⁴ Center for Research and Technology Transfer, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, 10000, Viet Nam.
⁵ Institute of Chemistry, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Hanoi, 10000, Viet Nam. Electronic address: hoasinhmoitruong.vast@gmail.com.
⁶ Institute of Chemistry, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Hanoi, 10000, Viet Nam.

PMID: 37741370
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140221

Abstract

Parabens have emerged as the primary preservative of choice in numerous consumer goods, prompting growing apprehension regarding their potential for human exposure. The study employed the optimized QuEChERs sample extraction method and the UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS system to generate the initial contamination profiles of seven parabens and their four metabolites in a total of 114 fish samples found along the coastline of Vietnam. The findings of the study indicated that methylparaben was the predominant substance detected, exhibiting the highest concentration in the largehead hairtail (Trichiurus lepturus) species at 32.8 ng g^-1 dry weight (dw). Additionally, the metabolites with the highest detectable concentrations in the largehead hairtail were found to be 4-HB and 3,4-DHB, with levels of 8822.0 ng g^-1 dw and 3490.8 ng g^-1 dw, respectively. Besides, the study reveals notable variations in paraben concentrations across three distinct regions in Vietnam, namely the Central, North, and South (Mann-Whitney U test, p < 0.05). The trophic magnification factors (TMF) for methylparaben, ethylparaben, ethyl protocatechuate, and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid exhibited values exceeding 1, indicating substantial biomagnification of these substances within the marine food web of Vietnam. Additionally, noteworthy positive associations have been observed between methylparaben and ethylparaben, as well as their respective metabolites. Based on the findings of the study, it can be concluded that there is no direct impact of seafood consumption on human health in Vietnam.

Keywords: Paraben; Q-Orbitrap HRMS; QuEChERS; Trophic magnification factor.

MeSH terms

Animals
Bioaccumulation
Fishes* / metabolism
Humans
Parabens* / analysis
Risk Assessment
Vietnam

Substances

methylparaben
ethyl-p-hydroxybenzoate
Parabens