Exposure to select phthalates and phenols through use of personal care products among Californian adults and their children

Abstract

Introduction: Certain phenols and phthalates are used in many consumer products including personal care products (PCPs).

Aims: We aimed to study the associations between the use of PCPs and urinary concentrations of biomarkers of select phenols and phthalates among Californian adults and their children. As an additional aim we compared phenols and phthalate metabolites concentrations measured in adults and children urine samples collected the same day.

Methods: Our study relied on a subsample of 90 adult-child pairs participating in the Study of Use of Products and Exposure Related Behavior (SUPERB). Each adult and child provided one to two urine samples in which we measured concentrations of selected phenols and phthalate metabolites. We computed Spearman correlation coefficients to compare concentrations measured in adults and children urine samples collected the same day. We used adjusted linear and Tobit regression models to study the associations between the use of PCPs in the past 24h and biomarker concentrations.

Results: Benzophenone-3 and parabens concentrations were higher in adults compared to their children. Conversely children had higher mono-n-butyl phthalate and mono-isobutyl phthalate concentrations. No significant difference was observed for the other compounds. The total number of different PCPs used was positively associated with urinary concentrations of methyl, propyl and butyl parabens and the main metabolite of diethyl phthalate in adults. Among children, the use of a few specific products including liquid soap, hair care products and sunscreen was positively associated with urinary concentrations of some phenols or phthalate metabolites.

Discussion: These results strengthen the body of evidence suggesting that use of PCPs is an important source of exposure to parabens and diethyl phthalate in adults and provide data on exposure to selected phenols and phthalates through use of PCPs in children.

Keywords: Endocrine disruptors; Parabens; Personal care products; Phenols; Phthalates; Temporal variability.

Fig. 1

Urinary concentrations of phenols and phthalate metabolites uncorrected (A) and corrected (B) for creatinine among adults and their children (first visit of the SUPERB study 2007–2009, n = 81^a). ^aRestricted to adult–child pairs with urine sample for both the adults and the children. Two adults–child pairs were excluded from this analysis because the parent and the child collected their urine sample several days apart. Abbreviations: BP: butyl paraben, BP3: benzophenone-3, MBP: mono-n-butyl phthalate, MEP: monoethyl phthalate, MiBP: mono-isobutyl phthalate, MP: methyl paraben, PP: propyl paraben, TCS: triclosan. **p-Values for Mann–Whitney test ≤0.05, *p-Values for Mann–Whitney test ≤0.10.