Exposure Profile and Characteristics of Parabens and Alkylphenols in Plasma among Rural Adults in Central China

Abstract

Parabens and alkylphenols pose serious hazards to human health, yet there are few studies on their exposure profiles and health risks in rural Chinese populations. In this study, 804 participants were selected from the Henan Rural Cohort in mid-eastern China. The plasma levels of parabens (methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben (BuP)) and alkylphenols (4-tert-butylphenol (4-t-BP), 4-tert-octylphenol (4-t-OP)) were analyzed via liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Linear regression models were used to investigate factors that may influence pollutant exposure levels. The correlation between contaminants was assessed using Spearman’s correlation. The human contaminant intake was estimated using the estimated daily intake (EDI). The health risk was assessed using the hazard quotient (HQ). The detection frequency of four parabens and two alkylphenols exceeded 75%, with median concentrations of 0.444, 0.067, 0.078, 0.053, 8.810, and 6.401 ng/mL, respectively. Significant correlations were observed between parabens, as well as between 4-t-BP and 4-t-OP. Regarding gender, paraben concentrations were higher in women than in men, except for BuP. The EDI for pollutants except 4-t-OP was lower than their respective tolerable/acceptable daily intake. In total, 85.70% of participants had 4-t-OP HQ > 1. A widespread exposure to parabens and alkylphenols among the rural population was found. The high health risks of alkylphenol exposure indicate that alkylphenols should be used with caution.

Exposure assessment of dairy cows to parabens using hair samples analysis

“…which is confirmed by the fact that PBs concentration levels (especially MeP) noted in the present study are generally higher than values observed in wild animals living especially in less urbanized areas 8 , 18 , 48 . However, PBs are also present in rural areas 49 . The important source of human and animal exposure to PBs in rural regions is connected with the fact that various environmental pollutants, including PBs, are discharged into sewage systems and with the sewage they penetrate into the environment through surface water and groundwater.…”