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 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. 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 the metabolites of 5 phenols and 3 low molecular weight phthalates. We used adjusted linear and Tobit regression models to study the associations between the use of PCPs in the past 24 hours and biomarker concentrations. Results: Benzophenone-3 (BP3) and paraben 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. In adults, 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. 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.