Probabilistic exposure assessment of aggregate rates of dermal exposure of Japanese women and children to parabens in personal care products. (January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tokumura, Masahiro; Nitta, Shiori; Hayashi, Tomomi; Yamaguchi, Rina; Wang, Qi; Miyake, Yuichi; Amagai, Takashi; Makino, Masakazu
• Is Part Of: Chemosphere. Volume 239(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-01
• Subjects: ConsExpo -- Dermal exposure -- Multiple exposure -- Paraben -- Personal care product -- Risk assessment; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Atmospheric chemistry -- Periodicals; 551.511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.124704
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0045-6535

Abstract

Abstract: Parabens ( p- hydroxybenzoic acids) are commonly used as preservatives in personal care products. Although the rate of exposure to a single product may be small, it is possible for an individual to have marked exposure to parabens through the use of multiple personal care products (aggregate exposure). To assess the risks associated with aggregate exposure to parabens, we estimated the dermal exposure rate distributions of four major parabens (methylparaben, MP; ethylparaben, EP; propylparaben, PP; butylparaben, BP) in various products for women (>20 years old) and children (1–3 years old) by using the probabilistic exposure assessment tool ConsExpo. Integrated exposure rates were then calculated as the sum of exposure rates for individual products. Aggregate exposure rates for women were 1.2 (median) (0.13 [5%ile], 6.9 [95%ile]), 0.43 (0.029, 3.0), 0.35 (0.032, 1.9), and 0.25 (0.027, 1.2) mg kg-bw −1 day −1 for MP, EP, PP, and BP, respectively. Those for children were 0.47 (0.054, 2.2), 0.11 (0.012, 0.60), 0.13 (0.012, 0.78), and 0.13 (0.0065, 0.85) mg kg-bw −1 day −1 for MP, EP, PP, and BP, respectively. Integrated exposure rates for women were several times those for children. In both cases, personal care products that were applied to larger areas of skin and were used more frequently were more likely to be associated with higher exposure rates. According to the results of a risk assessment using a margin of exposure approach, aggregate rates of exposure to PP and BP, but not MP or EP, were high enough to warrant concern about disruption of the reproductive system. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Aggregate exposure rates to parabens via personal care products were estimated. Aggregate exposure rates for women were several times higher than those for children. Margins of exposure for women were lower than those for children. Aggregate rates of exposure to PP and BP were high enough to warrant concern.