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Biomonitoring of Phthalates, Bisphenols and Parabens in Children: Exposure, Predictors and Risk Assessment
Pablo Dualde1, Nuria León2, Yovana Sanchis2
1Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research of the Valencian Region, FISABIO-Public Health, Av. Catalunya, 21, 46020 Valencia, Spain.
Insights
Children in Spain are widely exposed to phthalates, bisphenols, and parabens, but internal exposure levels are below health risk guidance values. This biomonitoring study found lower concentrations than previous research, indicating no expected health risks.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Biomonitoring
- Pediatric Exposure
Background:
- Emerging contaminants like phthalates, bisphenols, and parabens are linked to neurodevelopment and endocrine issues in children.
- Biomonitoring of these contaminants in children is crucial for assessing exposure and potential health risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To biomonitor exposure to phthalates, bisphenols, and parabens in children aged 5-12 years in the Valencia Region, Spain.
- To assess the internal exposure levels and evaluate potential health risks associated with these emerging contaminants.
Main Methods:
- Utilized urine samples from the BIOVAL program for biomonitoring.
- Analyzed biomarkers for phthalates, bisphenols, and parabens in 562 children.
- Calculated geometric means (GM) for detected compound concentrations.
Main Results:
- Over 75% of children showed exposure to bisphenols and parabens (>LOQ).
- All assessed children (n=557) were exposed to at least one phthalate.
- Detected concentrations were generally lower than in previous national and international studies.
Conclusions:
- Widespread exposure to phthalates, bisphenols, and parabens was confirmed in the studied child population.
- Internal exposure levels were below established guidance values, suggesting no anticipated health risk.
- Biomonitoring data indicates a potentially decreasing trend in exposure compared to prior research.
Abstract:
Exposure to emerging contaminants, such as phthalates, bisphenols and parabens in children has been associated with possible neurodevelopment and endocrine alterations. In the present study, the biomonitoring of biomarkers in children (5-12 years old) from the Valencia Region (Spain) have been implemented using urines from the BIOVAL program. More than 75% of the children studied (n = 562) were internally exposed (>LOQ) to bisphenols and parabens, and the whole population assessed (n = 557) were exposed to at least one phthalate. The geometric means (GM) of the concentrations of bisphenol A, methyl paraben and propyl paraben were 0.9, 1.4 and 0.39 ng/mL, respectively. Regarding phthalates, monoethyl phthalate GM was 55.0 ng/mL and diethyl hexyl phthalate (as the sum of five metabolites) GM was 60.6 ng/mL. Despite the studied population being widely exposed, the detection frequencies and concentrations were in general lower than in previous studies involving children in Spain and in other countries in recent years. Furthermore, the risk assessment study concluded that the internal exposure to phthalates, bisphenols and parabens is lower than the guidance values established, and, therefore, a health risk derived from the exposure to these compounds in the studied population is not expected.
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