Abstract
4-Nonylphenol (4-NP) and 4-t-octylphenol (4-t-OP) are xenoestrogen compounds to which humans are exposed via contaminated food, water, and air. This study assessed the body burden of 4-NP and 4-t-OP in Koreans aged 18–69 years using data from the Korean National Human Biomonitoring Survey conducted in 2009. Based on data from 1865 representative Koreans, 83.2% and 91.8% had urinary 4-NP and 4-t-OP concentrations >0.05 ng/mL (limit of detection). Of the Korean adult population, the geometric mean urinary concentrations of 4-NP and 4-t-OP were 3.70 ng/mL (95% confidence interval (CI) = 3.20–4.27) and 0.60 ng/mL (95% CI = 0.55–0.66), respectively. Urine 4-NP concentrations were significantly associated with place of residence and smoking status, whereas urine 4-t-OP concentrations were not correlated with any of the demographic factors. These findings suggest that most Koreans have detectable levels of 4-NP and 4-t-OP in their urine and that the body burden of 4-NP, but not 4-t-OP, varies according to some demographic factors.
Highlights
Humans are potentially exposed to a wide range of toxic chemicals present in commonly used products and in environmental media
Selected percentiles of 4-NP levels in the participants’ urine samples are presented in Table 2; 83.2% of sample values were above the limit of detection (LOD) and ranged between 0.05 ng/mL (LOD) and 4477.0 ng/mL
The United States (US) National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III reported that the geometric mean of urinary 4-NP level was below the LOD (0.1 ng/mL) for the US adult population [20]
Summary
Humans are potentially exposed to a wide range of toxic chemicals present in commonly used products and in environmental media. Human biomonitoring surveys of these chemicals are important for determining the mean exposure level of a population, describing geographical differences, identifying high-risk groups, and assessing health risks in a population [1]. Several countries, including the United States (U.S.) and Germany, have conducted nationally representative biomonitoring surveys that have included analyses of phenolic compounds. Among the phenolic compounds to which humans are most commonly exposed are 4-nonylphenol (4-NP) and. Because 4-NP and 4-t-OP are widespread environmental contaminants found in wastewater, potable water, rivers, and biota [5,6,7], the general public can be exposed to these chemicals through drinking water, contaminated foods, air inhalation, and dermal absorption [8,9]. Exposure to 4-NP induces male infertility by exerting a
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