Human urinary excretion of non-persistent environmental chemicals: an overview of Danish data collected between 2006 and 2012

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Several non-persistent industrial chemicals have shown endocrine disrupting effects in animal studies and are suspected to be involved in human reproductive disorders. Among the non-persistent chemicals that have been discussed intensively during the past years are phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), triclosan (TCS), and parabens because of their anti-androgenic and/or estrogenic effects. Phthalates are plasticizers used in numerous industrial products. Bisphenol A is the main component of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. Parabens and TCS are antimicrobial preservatives and other phenols such as benzophenone-3 (BP-3) act as a UV-screener, while chlorophenols and phenyl phenols are used as pesticides and fungicides in agriculture. In spite of the widespread use of industrial chemicals, knowledge of exposure sources and human biomonitoring studies among different segments of the population is very limited. In Denmark, we have no survey programs for non-persistent environmental chemicals, unlike some countries such as the USA (NHANES) and Germany (GerES). However, we have analyzed the excretion of seven parabens, nine phenols, and the metabolites of eight different phthalates in urine samples collected over the past 6 years from four Danish cohorts. Here, we present biomonitoring data on more than 3600 Danish children, adolescents, young men, and pregnant women from the general population. Our study shows that nearly all Danes were exposed to the six most common phthalates, to BPA, TCS, and BP-3, and to at least two of the parabens. The exposure to other non-persistent chemicals was also widespread. Our data indicate decreasing excretion of two common phthalates (di-n-butyl phthalate and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate) over time.

Original languageEnglish
JournalReproduction
Volume147
Issue number4
Pages (from-to)555-565
Number of pages11
ISSN1470-1626
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014

    Research areas

  • Adolescent, Adult, Benzhydryl Compounds, Child, Child, Preschool, Denmark, Endocrine Disruptors, Environmental Exposure, Environmental Monitoring, Environmental Pollutants, Female, Health Surveys, Humans, Male, Parabens, Phenols, Phthalic Acids, Pregnancy, Triclosan, Young Adult

ID: 138215767