Propylparaben Research Articles

Exposure to Phenols, Phthalates, and Parabens and Development of Metabolic Syndrome Among Mexican Women in Midlife.

Background: Evidence suggests exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can influence Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) risk in adults, but it is unclear if EDCs impact women during midlife. We examined if EDCs measured in adult women were predictive of MetS and its components 9 years later.Methods: We measured urinary phthalate metabolites, phenols, and parabens collected in 2008 among 73 females from the ELEMENT study. MetS and its components (Abdominal Obesity, Hypertriglyceridemia, Cholesterolemia, Hypertension, and Hyperglycemia) were assessed in 2017. We regressed log-transformed EDC concentrations on MetS and MetS components using logistic regression, adjusting for age and physical activity.Results: At follow-up, the mean (SD) age was 46.6 (6.3) years; the prevalence of MetS was 34.3%. Sum of dibutyl phthalate metabolites (ΣDBP), monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP), and monoethyl phthalate (MEP) were associated with an increased odds of hypertriglyceridemia. 2,5-dichlorophenol (2,5 DCP) and 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4 DCP) were associated with increased odds of hypertriglyceridemia. The odds of hypertension were 4.18 (95% CI: 0.98, 17.7, p < 0.10) and 3.77 (95% CI: 0.76, 18.62, p < 0.10) times higher for every IQR increase in MCOP and propyl paraben, respectively. The odds of hyperglycemia were 0.46 (95% CI: 0.18, 1.17 p < 0.10) times lower for every IQR increase in the sum of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate metabolites (ΣDEHP), and the odds of abdominal obesity were 0.70 (95% CI: 0.40, 1.21, p < 0.10) lower for every IQR increase in the concentration of triclosan.Conclusion: We found EDCs measured in 2008 were marginally predictive of hypertriglyceridemia and hypertension 9 years later. Results suggest that lower exposure to certain toxicants was related to lower markers of metabolic risk among midlife women.

The enrichment and extraction of parabens with polydopamine-coated microporous carrageenan hydrogel beads incorporating a hierarchical composite of metal-organic frameworks and magnetite nanoparticles

A polydopamine-coated microporous composite of metal–organic frameworks and magnetite nanoparticles embedded in carrageenan hydrogel beads was fabricated and successfully utilized for the dispersive magnetic solid-phase extraction of parabens. Polydopamine and the metal organic frameworks enhanced the adsorption of parabens on the hierarchical composite sorbent by hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic and π-π interactions. The affecting parameters were optimized to achieve the highest extraction efficiency from rapid extraction with low solvent consumption. The developed method provided linearity from 0.10 to 100 µg L-1 of methyl parabens, 0.50–100 µg L-1 of ethyl paraben and 2.0–100 µg L-1 of propyl parabens and butyl paraben with low limit of detection (0.05–1.0 µg L-1). When used to extract parabens in real samples, the composite adsorbent showed good accuracy, achieved extraction recoveries in the range of 80 to 96% and had a good stability which enabled reuse. The proposed hierarchical composite adsorbent could potentially be altered for the extraction of other compounds in various matrices.

Temporal exposure and consistency of endocrine disrupting chemicals in a longitudinal study of individuals with impaired fasting glucose

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) include non-persistent exogenous substances such as parabens, bisphenols and phthalates which have been associated with a range of metabolic disorders and disease. It is unclear if exposure remains consistent over time. We investigated change in indicators of EDC exposure between 2009 and 2016 and assessed its consistency between and within individuals over a median follow-up time of 47 months in a sample of Dutch individuals. Of 500 Dutch individuals, two 24 h urine samples were analysed for 5 parabens, 3 bisphenols and 13 metabolites of in total 8 different phthalates. We calculated per-year differences using meta-analysis and assessed temporal correlations between and within individuals using Spearman correlation coefficients, intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) and kappa-statistics. We found a secular decrease in concentrations of methyl, ethyl, propyl and n-butyl paraben, bisphenol A, and metabolites of di-ethyl phthalate (DEP), di-butyl phthalate (DBP), di-(2-ethyl-hexyl) phthalate (DEHP), and butylbenzyl phthalate (DBzP) which varied from 8 to 96% (ethyl paraben, propyl paraben) between 2009 and 2016. Within-person temporal correlations were highest for parabens (ICC: 0.34 to 0.40) and poorest for bisphenols (ICC: 0.15 to 0.23). For phthalate metabolites, correlations decreased most between time periods (ICC < 48 months: 0.22 to 0.39; ≥48 months: 0.05 to 0.32). When categorizing EDC concentrations, 33–54% of individuals remained in the lowest or highest category and temporal correlations were similar to continuous measurements. Exposure to most EDCs decreased between 2009 and 2016 in a sample of individuals with impaired fasting glucose from the Dutch population. Temporal consistency was generally poor. The inconsistency in disease associations may be influenced by individual-level or temporal variation exhibited by EDCs. Our findings call for the need for repeated measurements of EDCs in observational studies before and during at-risk temporal windows for the disease.

Development of Poly(3,4-Ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) Electropolymerized Sorbent-Based Solid-Phase Microextraction (SPME) for the Determination of Parabens in Lake Waters by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography – Tandem Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS)

Parabens are widely used as antimicrobial preservatives in cosmetic products and pharmaceuticals. Therefore, their presence in the environment is considered to be serious and their determination is important. This paper reports the development and validation of a new method based on solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and high-performance liquid chromatography – tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) for the simultaneous determination of five parabens (methylparaben (MP), ethylparaben (EP), propylparaben (PP), butylparaben (BP) and benzylparaben (BzP)) in surface water. The polymer sorbent was obtained by the electropolymerization of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene on a stainless steel spring support. The parameters affecting the extraction efficiency of parabens were optimized. Under optimal conditions, the extraction recoveries ranged from 88 to 98% except for BzP (70%). Good linear responses were obtained with correlation coefficients (r2) exceeding 0.999. The detection limits were from 0.004 to 0.28 µg L−1. The method was successfully applied for the determination of parabens in lake water.

Application of grouping and read-across for the evaluation of parabens of different chain lengths with a particular focus on endocrine properties

This article presents the outcomes of higher-tier repeated-dose toxicity studies and developmental and reproductive toxicity (DART) studies using Wistar rats requested for methyl paraben and propyl paraben under the European Union chemicals legislation. All studies revealed no-observed adverse effects (NOAELs) at 1000 mg/kg body weight/day. These findings (absence of effects) were then used to interpolate the hazard profile for ethyl paraben, further considering available data for butyl paraben. The underlying read-across hypothesis (all shorter-chained linear n-alkyl parabens are a ‘category’ based on very high structural similarity and are transformed to a common compound) was confirmed by similarity calculations and comparative in vivo toxicokinetics screening studies for methyl paraben, ethyl paraben, propyl paraben and butyl paraben. All four parabens were rapidly taken up systemically following oral gavage administration to rats, metabolised to p-hydroxybenzoic acid, and rapidly eliminated (parabens within one hour; p-hydroxybenzoic acid within 4–8 h). Accordingly, for ethyl paraben, the NOAELs for repeated-dose toxicity and DART were interpolated to be 1000 mg/kg body weight/day. Finally, all evidence was evaluated to address concerns expressed in the literature that parabens might be endocrine disruptors. This evaluation showed that the higher-tier studies do not provide any indication for any endocrine disrupting property. This is the first time that a comprehensive dataset from higher-tier in vivo studies following internationally agreed test protocols has become available for shorter-chained linear n-alkyl parabens. Consistently, the dataset shows that these parabens are devoid of repeated-dose toxicity and do not possess any DART or endocrine disrupting properties.

Assessing the Public Health Implications of the Food Preservative Propylparaben: Has This Chemical Been Safely Used for Decades.

Parabens are chemicals containing alkyl-esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid, which give them antimicrobial, antifungal, and preservative properties. Propylparaben (PP) is one paraben that has been widely used in personal care products, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and food. In this review, we address the ongoing controversy over the safety of parabens, and PP specifically. These chemicals have received significant public attention after studies published almost 20years ago suggested plausible associations between PP exposures and breast cancer. Here, we use key characteristics, a systematic approach to evaluate the endocrine disrupting properties of PP based on features of "known" endocrine disruptors, and consider whether its classification as a "weak" estrogen should alleviate public health concerns over human exposures. We also review the available evidence from rodent and human studies to illustrate how the large data gaps that exist in hazard assessments raise concerns about current evaluations by regulatory agencies that PP use is safe. Finally, we address the circular logic that is used to suggest that because PP has been used for several decades, it must be safe. We conclude that inadequate evidence has been provided for the safe use of PP in food, cosmetics, and consumer products.

Pollution characteristics, temporal records, and risks associated with parabens and mercury in sediments from the upper Huai River, Henan Province

Mercury (Hg), six alkyl esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid (parabens), and their metabolite, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (PHBA), were simultaneously studied in sediments from the upper Huai River, Henan Province, China. There were higher concentrations of Hg in the surface sediments from the Huai River during the moderate precipitation season (MPS②) as compared to the minimal precipitation (MPS①) and high precipitation seasons (HPS), and as compared to core sediments. The Hg values in all sediments were above the background value. The Hg contents in the tributaries were much higher than those in the mainstream. The concentrations of ∑parabens in the core sediments ranged from 2.45 to 22.2 ng/g while the concentrations of PHBA ranged from 11.3 to 155 ng/g. Methylparaben (MeP) and propylparaben (PrP) were the most commonly detected parabens. Total organic carbon (TOC) and black carbon (BC) played important roles in the distribution of Hg in the surface sediments during the minimal precipitation and high precipitation seasons and affect the distribution of Hg and parabens in core sediments. Sand (>63 μm) was another factor affecting the distribution of Hg and parabens in core sediments. The concentrations of PHBA and Hg in core sediments were positively correlated. Temporal records of Hg and parabens in core sediments reflected local social changes. Hg content in the surface sediments during the MPS② was associated with relatively high ecological risks while parabens in the core sediments were associated with low level risks.

Analysis of six preservatives in beverages using hydrophilic deep eutectic solvent as disperser in dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction based on the solidification of floating organic droplet

In this work, a deep eutectic solvent (DES) composed of tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBABr) and acetic acid in a 1:2 M ratio was applied as the dispersive solvent for the dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction based on solidification of floating organic droplet (DLLME-SFO), using 1-decanol as extractant. Six preservatives (benzoic acid, BA; sorbic acid, SA; methyl paraben, MP; ethyl paraben, EP; propyl paraben PP; and butyl paraben, BP) in beverages were determined simultaneously through high-performance liquid chromatography with a diode array detector (HPLC-DAD). Under the optimal experimental condition that consists of 200 μL of disperser (TBABr: acetic acid, 1:2), 80 μL of extractant (1-decanol), 3 min of vortex time, 4.5 of pH, 2.5 g of NaCl, the proposed method showed satisfactory linearity in the range of 0.05−50.0 mg L−1, with a correlation coefficient (R2) higher than 0.9998. The limits of detection (LODs) varied from 0.02 to 0.05 mg L-1 and the limits of quantification (LOQs) varied from 0.05−0.1 mg L−1. The relative standard deviations (intra-day and inter-days) were below 5 %. The developed method was successfully applied to the determination of preservatives in beverages.

Ultrasonic-assisted adsorption of propyl paraben on ultrasonically synthesized TiO2 nanoparticles loaded on activated carbon: optimization, kinetic and equilibrium studies

Ultrasonic-assisted adsorption of propyl paraben on ultrasonically synthesized TiO2 nanoparticles loaded on activated carbon: optimization, kinetic and equilibrium studies

Synthesis of new polyester networks containing β-cyclodextrin cavities for removal of paraben derivatives from water resources by inclusion complexes

This study aimed to develop new thermally stable synthetic polyester network containing β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) cavities with good absorbent behavior to remove organic pollutants such as parabens derivatives (methyl and propyl parabens) from aqueous solution. β-Cyclodextrin polyester network (β-CDPN) was synthesized by the reaction of β-CD with N,N′-(4,4′-diphenylether) bis trimellitimide diacid chloride as a cross-linker agent in the presence of sodium hydride. Diimide acid chloride as a synthetic cross-linker agent was prepared by two-step reactions. The sorbent process was optimized by four different parameters, such as pH, the temperature of the solution, contact time, β-CDPN ratio. After adsorbed of parabens in aqueous solution, the β-CDPN precipitates were gathered, and the solution was analyzed by using the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) technique. The results show the high absorbent capacity of parabens (about 99%) by β-CDPN cavities. Furthermore, the kinetic data were measured using the pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order equation. The pseudo-second-order showed the best fit for the kinetic studies (methyl and propyl parabens R2: 0.9979 and 0.9998, respectively). The adsorption equilibrium of methyl paraben using β-CDPN could be well defined with the Langmuir isotherm model. The adsorption ability of β-CDPN kept nearly unchanged after five filtration-regeneration cycles, further TGA and DTG experiments show β-CDPN has excellent thermal stability and can be used in a wide range of temperatures.

Simultaneous Determination of Isothiazolinones and Parabens in Cosmetic Products Using Solid-Phase Extraction and Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography/Diode Array Detector.

Isothiazolinones methylisothiazolinone (MI) and methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI), and parabens methylparaben (MP), ethylparaben (EP), propylparaben (PP) and butylparaben (BP) are the most common synthetic preservatives. They are all known to be potential skin allergens that lead to contact dermatitis. Thus, the identification of these unsafe chemicals in cosmetic products is of high importance. In the present study, solid-phase extraction (SPE) based on HyperSep reversed-phase C8/benzene sulfonic acid ion exchanger (HyperSep C8/BSAIE) and Sep-Pak C18 sorbents, and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography/diode array detector (UHPLC/DAD) were optimized for the simultaneous determination of MI, MCI, MP, EP, PP and BP in cosmetic products. HyperSep C8/BSAIE and UHPLC/DAD with the eluting solvent mixture (acetonitrile/methanol, 2:1, v/v) and detection wavelength (255 nm) were found to be the optimal conditions, respectively. The method illustrates the excellent linearity range (0.008–20 μg/mL) with coefficient of determination (R2, 0.997–0.999), limits of detection (LOD, 0.001–0.002 μg/mL), precision in terms of relative standard deviation (RSD < 3%, intra-day and <6%, inter-day) when examining a standard mixture at low (0.07 µg/mL), medium (3 µg/mL) and high (15 µg/mL) concentrations. A total of 31 cosmetic samples were studied, achieving concentrations (MI, not detected (nd)-0.89 µg/g), (MCI, nd-0.62 µg/g), (MP, nd-6.53 µg/g), (EP, nd-0.90 µg/g), (PP, nd-9.69 µg/g) and (BP, nd-17.80 µg/g). Recovery values ranged from 92.33 to 101.43% depending on the types of sample. To our knowledge, this is the first specific method which covers the theme and describes background amounts of such preservatives in cosmetics.

Exposure of Chinese adult females to parabens from personal care products: Estimation of intake via dermal contact and health risks.

Parabens are added into foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PCPs) as additives extensively due to their excellent antiseptic and antibacterial effects. In the past decade, parabens have raised great concerns on their potential harm to humans. Existing studies have suggested positive correlations between PCP application and urinary paraben concentrations in females, but little is known about paraben exposure levels and health risks arising from PCP use. In this study, 150 PCP samples covering eleven categories were collected from South China and measured for the concentrations of five parabens, including methyl paraben (MeP), ethyl paraben (EtP), propyl paraben (PrP), butyl paraben (BuP) and benzyl paraben (BeP). Parabens were widely detected in PCPs, with a detection frequency of 100%, 99.3%, 80.0%, 74.0% and 13.3%, for MeP, EtP, PrP, BuP and BeP, respectively. The median concentration of Σ5parabens was 126μg/g with a range of 6.38-424μg/g across all PCP samples. The contents of MeP, EtP and PrP measured in leave-on PCPs were obviously higher than those in the rinse-off ones (p<0.05). MeP and PrP were the main paraben analogues, together accounting for 93.6% of Σ5parabens in all PCPs. The daily intakes of parabens through dermal absorption by Chinese adult females estimated by measurements obtained in the present study were 0.15 and 83.2 μg/kg-bw/day on basis of the application of rinse-off and leave-on PCPs, respectively. Among the eleven categories, sunscreen, body lotion and mask constituted the main exposure sources of parabens to females. The hazard quotients of parabens were far less than 1, indicating no considerable health risk for Chinese adult females.

Serum levels of non-persistent environmental pollutants and risk of incident hypertension in a sub-cohort from the EPIC study

BackgroundThe prevalence of arterial hypertension (AHT), a well-known risk factor for cardiovascular disease, has considerably increased over last decades. Non-persistent environmental pollutants (npEPs) are a group of ubiquitous chemicals, widely used in consumer products such as food packaging and cosmetics, which have been identified as endocrine disrupting chemicals and obesogens. The aim of this study was to assess the potential associations of serum levels of three groups of npEPs with the risk of incident AHT. MethodsCohort study within a sub-cohort of Granada EPIC-Spain center (n = 670). We quantified serum concentrations of three groups of npEPs, i.e., bisphenol A (BPA), four parabens: methylparaben (MP), ethylparaben (EP), propylparaben (PP) and butylparaben (BP), and two benzophenones: benzophenone 1 (BP1), benzophenone 3 (BP3), in samples collected at recruitment. Statistical analyses were performed by means of Cox Proportional Hazard Models. ResultsMedian follow-up time was 23 years. BPA and MP were found in >80% of the study population. Individuals within the 4th PP quartile (0.53–9.24 ng/ml) showed a statistically significant increased risk of AHT (HR = 1.40, p = 0.015). No associations were found for the rest of pollutants. ConclusionsOverall, we evidenced no associations of most npEPs with AHT risk, with the exception of an increased risk in the highest PP percentiles. Considering the limitations of using one spot serum sample for exposure characterization, further research on the potential contribution of npEPs on the development of AHT risk is warranted.

Effects of the Ophthalmic Additive Mannitol on Antimicrobial Activity and Corneal Toxicity of Various Preservatives.

Ophthalmic preservatives are indispensable in eye drop formulations, but may be toxic to corneal structures. Corneal damage necessitates the discontinuation of treatment with ophthalmic solutions. Therefore, the development of a new and safe preservative system without corneal toxicity is needed. The present study investigated the effects of mannitol on the antimicrobial activities and corneal toxicities of various preservatives using Escherichia coli and a human corneal epithelial cell line (HCE-T cells). The following preservatives were examined: boric acid (BA), benzalkonium chloride (BAC), methyl parahydroxybenzoate (MP), propyl parahydroxybenzoate (PP), sodium chlorite (SC), and zinc chloride (ZC). The antimicrobial activities and HCE-T-cell toxicities of 50 µg/mL BA, MP, PP, SC, and ZC were reduced by a co-treatment with mannitol (0-300 µg/mL). The suppressed antimicrobial activities of BA, MP, PP, and SC by the co-treatment with mannitol were restored by the application of a mannitol content higher than 500 µg/mL. In contrast to these 5 preservatives, the addition of mannitol did not affect the antimicrobial activity of BAC and attenuated its HCE-T cell toxicity. Therefore, the balance between the contents of mannitol and preservatives is important in co-treatments. The present results will serve as a guide for the future development of eye drop formulations without corneal toxicity.

Organic Micropollutants in Wastewater Effluents and the Receiving Coastal Waters, Sediments, and Biota of Lyttelton Harbour (Te Whakaraupō), New Zealand.

Coastal ecosystems are receiving environments for micropollutants due to high levels of associated anthropogenic activities. Effluent discharges from wastewater treatment plants are a significant source of micropollutants to coastal environments. Wastewater effluents, seawater, sediments, and green-lipped mussels (Perna canaliculus) in Lyttelton Harbour (Te Whakaraupō), Christchurch, New Zealand, were analysed for a suite of personal care products and steroid hormones during a 1-year period. In wastewater effluents, the concentration of methyl paraben (mParaben), ethyl paraben (eParaben), propyl paraben (pParaben), butyl paraben (bParaben), 4-t-octylphenol (OP), 4-methylbenzylidene camphor (4-MBC), benzophenone-3 (BP-3), benzophenone-1 (BP-1), triclosan, methyl triclosan (mTric), Bisphenol A (BPA), Estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (E2), 17α-ethinyl estradiol (EE2), and Estriol (E3) ranged from < 0.6 to 429ngL-1 and was dominated by OP, 4-MBC, BP-3, triclosan, BP-1, and BPA. In seawater, 4-MBC, BP-3, BPA, and E1 were the most frequently detected contaminants (< 0.2-9.4ngL-1). Coastal sediment samples contained mParaben, OP, 4-MBC, BP-3, BP-1, BPA, OMC, and E1 (< 0.2-11ngg-1d.w.), and mParaben, OP, and BP-3 were found to bioaccumulate (3.8-21.3ngg-1d.w.) in green lipped mussels.

Urinary parabens and their mixture in relation to fecundability among a cohort of women with prior pregnancy loss

Background/Aim: Parabens are antimicrobial preservatives with widespread exposure, and may affect endocrine function. Few studies have evaluated their influence on fecundability. Our aim was to determine the association between parabens and fecundability among a cohort of women with one or two prior pregnancy losses who were trying to conceive. Methods: The EAGeR trial followed women who were trying to conceive for up to 6 cycles. Six parabens (benzyl, butyl, ethyl, heptyl, methyl, propyl) and four paraben metabolites (OH-methyl, OH-ethyl, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid [4-HB] and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid [3,4-DHB]) were measured as pools combining three consecutive days of spot urine samples, at baseline, from 1185 women. Urinary creatinine was measured on day 1 of the pool. Fecundability, defined as time to pregnancy, was measured as number of menstrual cycles to achieve hCG positive pregnancy. Fecundability odds ratios (FORs) were determined by discrete-time survival analysis to model the association between fecundability and each chemical, adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, body mass index, creatinine, nulliparity and smoking, and accounting for left truncation (time trying prior to study enrollment). Quantile g-computation was used to estimate the effect of increasing all parabens by one quantile, in relation to fecundability. Results: Parabens were weakly (ethyl:heptyl rho -0.04) to highly (propyl:methyl rho 0.82) correlated with each other. Results were largely null in single chemical models, for example, butyl paraben FOR=0.99, 95% CI 0.95-1.03, per 1-log unit increase. Propyl paraben was marginally associated with reduced fecundability (FOR=0.96, 95% CI 0.92-1.01) and heptyl paraben with increased fecundability (FOR=1.15, 95% CI 1.00-1.33). Together as a mixture, parabens were not associated with fecundability (FOR=0.91, 95% CI 0.77-1.08).Conclusion: In single chemical models and as a mixture, most parabens were not associated with fecundability. While this is reassuring, given the high exposure prevalence, future studies should consider mixtures across endocrine disrupting chemical classes.

Exposure of Slovenian children and adolescents to bisphenols, parabens and triclosan: Urinary levels, exposure patterns, determinants of exposure and susceptibility

Chemicals such as bisphenols, parabens and triclosan are endocrine disrupting chemicals. They are used in a wide variety of consumer products, making human exposure to those chemicals widespread.In the present study, levels of three bisphenols (bisphenol A, F and S), 7 parabens (methyl-, ethyl-, isopropyl-, propyl-, isobutyl-, butyl-, benzyl paraben) and triclosan were measured in first morning void from 246 Slovenian children and adolescents, aged 6–9 and 11–15 years and living in a rural region of Slovenia. Median levels of specific-gravity corrected levels for bisphenol A, bisphenol F, methyl paraben and ethyl paraben were 1.9, 0.085, 5.4 and 2.5 µg/L for children and 1.6, 0.11, 7.2 and 6.0 µg/L for adolescents, respectively. Median levels for all other endocrine disrupting chemicals were < LOQ. The levels are comparable with the levels reported in studies across the world. Exposure was age, sex, and location specific. Higher levels of bisphenol F and ethyl paraben were found in the samples of adolescents, while higher levels of methyl paraben were found in samples from girls. Furthermore, individuals living in one of the sampling locations, Goričko, were exposed to higher levels of bisphenol F and ethyl paraben than those in the remaining two sampling locations. Information about participants’ dietary habits, use of food packaging and personal care products was obtained through questionnaires, and used to investigate associations between urinary levels of the biomarkers and potential exposure sources. High fat foods were associated with bisphenol A exposure, and cosmetics items such as lipstick and perfume with methyl paraben exposure. Significant correlation between methyl- and propyl paraben was observed in children’s samples, suggesting similar exposure sources, while other compounds were not largely correlated, indicating independent sources. Furthermore, association between a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in UGT2B15 gene and urinary levels of methyl and ethyl paraben was observed, showing the role of UGT2B15 isoform in methyl and ethyl paraben metabolism as well as indicating the SNP rs1902023 as a potential biomarker of susceptibility to adverse effects caused by the exposure.The present study reports exposure of children and adolescents in Slovenia to a wide range of different endocrine disrupting chemicals for the first time, connecting it to exposure patterns and exposure sources. The study is to the authors’ knowledge the first that investigates direct connection between levels of urinary endocrine disrupting chemical biomarkers and genetic polymorphism in UGT2B15.

Screening of Propyl paraben (PP) for control in situ populations of Aspergillus flavus and AFB1 contamination on stored chilli powder

Food spoilage and their contamination with mycotoxins are a significant issue for the food industry, leading to economic losses and a negative impact on public health all over the world. The objective of this study was to examine the preventive effect of different concentrations of Propylparaben (PP) for control of fungal populations and aflatoxin b1 (AFB1) contamination of stored chilli powder in both artificially and naturally contaminations. These treatments were examined at two different water activity (aw) levels (0.90 and 0.95 aw) in stored chilli powder at 30oC for 20 days. The total populations of A. flavus isolated from both artificially and naturally contamination of stored chilli powder at 30oC were significantly reduced by using PP treatments especially, with 2000 ppm. In additions, the AFB1 production was reduced when increased PP concentration compared to the untreated control. In conclusion, the economic and health impacts related to Aspergillus and AFB1 contamination could be minimised by adding PP as a food-grade preservative to stored chilli powder, Results show From a human health perspective, the use of PP is allowed as a food preservative by the (IARC) and (WHO). It must use according to legislation doses (0.1%) introduced by the law of (GRAS) regulations.

Evaluation of exposure to parabens in Iranian women and its association with personal care products using behavior

Parabens are widely used in personal care products (PCPs) as antimicrobial factors due to their biocide property. These compounds have estrogenic activities and act as endocrine disruptors against biological systems. This study aimed to measure the urinary concentration of methylparaben (MP), ethylparaben (EP), propylparaben (PP), and butylparaben (BP), and to evaluate their association with the application of 19 PCPs among Iranian women. Parabens' detection frequency was 86–100%, and their median concentration was 8.53–93.4 μg/L, representing wide exposure of participants to parabens. The highest daily intake (DI) was related to MP (median = 13.4 μg/kg-BW/day); however, it was lower than the acceptable daily intake (ADI). The difference in the level of parabens between three groups of PCPs users (low, moderate, and high) was significant (P < 0.05). So, the parabens' level of exposure in Iranian women has been associated with their PCPs using habits, and the levels of urinary parabens were different based on the type of used products. For instance, the concentration was higher among the users of lotion (13–78%), makeup base (41–74%), sunscreen (34–71%), body wash (57–87%), and deodorants (58–61%). These findings can be used in future risk assessment studies and in the strategic planning for elimination of exposure in the Iranian population.

Chitosan-Ni/Fe layered double hydroxide composites as an efficient solid phase extraction sorbent for HPLC-PDA monitoring of parabens in personal care products

There is a dire need for development of efficient and sensitive methods to efficiently screen parabens. In this research, we focused on quantification of four parabens (i.e., methylparaben (MP), ethylparaben (EP), propylparaben (PP), and butyl paraben (BP)) using chitosan intercalated nickel/iron layered double hydroxide (CS–Ni/Fe-LDH) composites as solid phase extraction sorbent prior to HPLC-PDA analysis. CS-Ni/Fe LDH composites with a heterogeneous, porous texture, and coral reef-like structure exhibit appealing extraction efficiency for the target parabens due to the enhanced possibility for the formation of hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions. The performance of the composites was assessed and optimized for solid phase extraction of parabens from standard samples and real samples (rose water, cream, toothpaste, hair serum, and sunscreen). The LDH-SPE-HPLC method exhibited a wide linear range (e.g., 100–50,000 ng L−1), good linearity (R2 ≥ 0.999), and good precision (relative standard deviation (RSD) < 3%). This method successfully enriched selected parabens with remarkable recovery above 85.95% and a good RSD (0.01–2.90%). The quantitation of MP, EP, PP, and BP was made at detection range (and limits of detection (LOD)) of 5–15 (9.8), 11–21 (16.2), 6–18 (12.4), and 10–20 (15.6) ng L−1, respectively. The prepared composites also displayed excellent performance with enhanced reusability/durability (n = 30 cycles) and reproducibility (n = 5).