Exposure to Parabens Through The Use of Personal Care Products Among Iranian Men

Despite the widespread use of parabens as antimicrobial preservatives in personal care products (PCP) and foodstuffs, recent studies have shown that exposure to parabens can play a role in the endocrine disruption process. In the present study, the urinary concentrations of methylparaben (MP), ethylparaben (EP), propylparaben (PP), and butylparaben (BP) were measured among 125 men, and their relationship with the use of 13 distinct PCPs was examined. MP, EP, PP, and BP were detected with a median concentration of 60.12, 8.40, 9.74, and 7.19 μg/L, respectively. The difference of urinary MP and PP between three groups of users of PCPs (low, medium, and high users) was significant (p < 0.05), and the higher levels were found in the high-users' group. The total number of PCP applications was associated with higher urinary MP and PP. Furthermore, the urinary concentration of parabens was found to be dependent of the types of products used. Participants who reported the use of sunscreen, lotions, and deodorant had significantly higher urinary MP (76-185%) than nonusers. Bodywash users had higher levels of urinary MP and PP (112-160%). The use of mouthwash, perfume/cologne, and toothpaste also had urinary PP concentration (73-412%) higher than nonusers. The use of handwashing products remarkably increased the urinary levels of parabens (158-520%). Our findings showed that the use of certain types of PCP is an important source of paraben exposure among Iranian men. These findings can serve as a basis for more extensive studies to investigate the extent of exposure to parabens and to apply appropriate strategies for reduction of their exposure.