Concentrations of urinary parabens and reproductive hormones in girls 6–17 years living in Canada

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dc.contributor.author

Guth, Margot

Pollock, Tyler

Fisher, Mandy

Arbuckle, Tye E.

Bouchard, Maryse F.

dc.date.accessioned

2024-03-08T18:29:22Z

dc.date.available

2024-03-08T18:29:22Z

dc.date.issued

2020-10-09

dc.description - en

"Health Canada helps to protect the health of Canadians by assessing and managing the health risks associated with exposure to environmental contaminants. Parabens are widely used as preservatives and fragrance ingredients in cosmetic products and natural health products. Parabens are also naturally present in foods, such as berries, fruit, wine and vanilla. These chemicals may cause developmental and/or reproductive impacts on human health. The objective of this study was to examine associations between parabens and reproductive hormones in Canadian girls. Data on girls from ages 6 to 17 years from the Canadian Health Measures Survey (2014-2015) were used. Parabens were measured in urine samples and the hormones estradiol, progesterone, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were measured in blood. Most of the 382 girls had detectable levels of parabens in their urine. This study found that higher urinary parabens were associated with lower levels of estradiol, FSH and LH, controlling for other factors such as body mass index, ethnicity, household income and season. Parabens were not associated with progesterone levels. These results are similar to what has been observed in animal studies. These findings suggest that parabens could alter the development and function of the reproductive system in girls. However, a limitation of this study is that parabens and hormones were measured at the same time. Therefore, this study can not help determine cause and effect. Additional research is necessary."

dc.description.abstract - en

Background Parabens are chemical substances used as preservatives for their antibacterial and antifungal properties in many personal care products, and sometimes in pharmaceutical and food products. Concerns for adverse human health effects arise from animal studies showing endocrine disrupting effects, such as changes in the timing of puberty and alterations in reproductive hormone activity. Our objective was to examine the association between urinary concentrations of parabens and serum concentrations of estradiol, progesterone, follicle stimulating hormone [FSH], and luteinizing hormone [LH]) in girls from the general population. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study in girls ages 6–17 years, using data from the Canadian Health Measures Survey (2014–2015). The association between concentrations of creatinine-standardized urinary parabens and serum hormone concentrations was analyzed with multivariable linear regressions, adjusting for potential confounders (i.e., age, body mass index, ethnicity, household income, sampling season; prenatal exposure to cigarette smoke for girls 6–11 years). Results The 382 girls and teens included in the study had a mean age of 11.0 years; 76% were white and 73% had a body mass index in the range normal/underweight. Most participants (92%) had least one paraben detected in their urine. Girls with higher urinary paraben concentrations had significantly lower serum concentrations of estradiol, LH, and FSH, but not of progesterone. A doubling in the sum of urinary parabens was associated with 5.8% lower estradiol (95% CI -9.3, -2.1), 4.2% lower FSH (95% CI -7.9, -0.3), and 10.8% lower LH (95% CI -17.4, -3.7). The analysis of individual compounds showed that all four parabens were similarly associated with lower concentrations of estradiol, FSH, and LH. We further analyzed younger girls (6–11 years) and found that urinary parabens were similarly associated with lower estradiol and LH (doubling in the sum of parabens associated with 5.9% lower estradiol [95% CI -10.5, -1.0] and 10.9% lower LH [95% CI -20.2, -0.6]). In this younger subgroup, the association estimate for FSH, however, was attenuated and no longer statistically significant. Discussion We observed that exposure to parabens was associated with reduced concentrations of circulating reproductive hormones, suggesting that these chemicals could alter the development and function of the endocrine system in girls. Further prospective research using long-term assessment of parabens exposure and of reproductive development may better determine endocrine disrupting effects of parabens.

dc.description.abstract-fosrctranslation - fr

Background Parabens are chemical substances used as preservatives for their antibacterial and antifungal properties in many personal care products, and sometimes in pharmaceutical and food products. Concerns for adverse human health effects arise from animal studies showing endocrine disrupting effects, such as changes in the timing of puberty and alterations in reproductive hormone activity. Our objective was to examine the association between urinary concentrations of parabens and serum concentrations of estradiol, progesterone, follicle stimulating hormone [FSH], and luteinizing hormone [LH]) in girls from the general population. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study in girls ages 6–17 years, using data from the Canadian Health Measures Survey (2014–2015). The association between concentrations of creatinine-standardized urinary parabens and serum hormone concentrations was analyzed with multivariable linear regressions, adjusting for potential confounders (i.e., age, body mass index, ethnicity, household income, sampling season; prenatal exposure to cigarette smoke for girls 6–11 years). Results The 382 girls and teens included in the study had a mean age of 11.0 years; 76% were white and 73% had a body mass index in the range normal/underweight. Most participants (92%) had least one paraben detected in their urine. Girls with higher urinary paraben concentrations had significantly lower serum concentrations of estradiol, LH, and FSH, but not of progesterone. A doubling in the sum of urinary parabens was associated with 5.8% lower estradiol (95% CI -9.3, -2.1), 4.2% lower FSH (95% CI -7.9, -0.3), and 10.8% lower LH (95% CI -17.4, -3.7). The analysis of individual compounds showed that all four parabens were similarly associated with lower concentrations of estradiol, FSH, and LH. We further analyzed younger girls (6–11 years) and found that urinary parabens were similarly associated with lower estradiol and LH (doubling in the sum of parabens associated with 5.9% lower estradiol [95% CI -10.5, -1.0] and 10.9% lower LH [95% CI -20.2, -0.6]). In this younger subgroup, the association estimate for FSH, however, was attenuated and no longer statistically significant. Discussion We observed that exposure to parabens was associated with reduced concentrations of circulating reproductive hormones, suggesting that these chemicals could alter the development and function of the endocrine system in girls. Further prospective research using long-term assessment of parabens exposure and of reproductive development may better determine endocrine disrupting effects of parabens.

dc.description.fosrctranslation - fr

« Santé Canada aide à protéger la santé des Canadiens en évaluant et en gérant les risques pour la santé associés à l'exposition à des contaminants environnementaux. Les parabènes sont largement utilisés comme agents de conservation et ingrédients de parfum dans les produits cosmétiques et les produits de santé naturels. Les parabènes sont également naturellement présents dans les aliments, comme comme les baies, les fruits, le vin et la vanille. Ces produits chimiques peuvent avoir des effets sur le développement et/ou la reproduction sur la santé humaine. L'objectif de cette étude était d'examiner les associations entre les parabènes et les hormones reproductives chez les filles canadiennes. Les données sur les filles âgées de 6 à 17 ans provenant de l'Enquête canadienne sur les mesures de la santé (2014-2015) ont été utilisées. Les parabènes ont été mesurés dans des échantillons d'urine et les hormones estradiol, progestérone, hormone folliculo-stimulante (FSH) et hormone lutéinisante (LH) ont été mesurées dans le sang. La plupart des 382 filles présentaient des niveaux détectables de parabènes dans leur urine. Cette étude a révélé que des parabènes urinaires plus élevés étaient associés à des niveaux plus faibles d'estradiol, de FSH et de LH, en contrôlant d'autres facteurs tels que l'indice de masse corporelle, l'origine ethnique, le revenu du ménage et la saison. Les parabènes n'étaient pas associés aux niveaux de progestérone. Ces résultats sont similaires à ceux observés dans les études animales. Ces résultats suggèrent que les parabènes pourraient altérer le développement et le fonctionnement du système reproducteur chez les filles. Cependant, une limite de cette étude est que les parabènes et les hormones ont été mesurés en même temps. Par conséquent, cette étude ne peut pas aider à déterminer la cause et l’effet. Des recherches supplémentaires sont nécessaires.

dc.identifier.doi

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2020.113633

dc.identifier.uri

https://open-science.canada.ca/handle/123456789/2032

dc.language.iso

en

dc.publisher

Elsevier

dc.subject - en

Health

Health and safety

dc.subject - fr

Santé

Santé et sécurité

dc.subject.en - en

Health

Health and safety

dc.subject.fr - fr

Santé

Santé et sécurité

dc.title - en

Concentrations of urinary parabens and reproductive hormones in girls 6–17 years living in Canada

dc.type - en

Article

dc.type - fr

Article

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