Paraben Exposure in the General Taiwanese Population: Reference Values, Personal Care Products, and Cumulative Risk Assessment

Parabens (parahydroxybenzoates), which are frequently used as preservatives in pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, and personal care products, have recently attracted considerable attention due to their adverse health effects and endocrine-disrupting properties. This study aimed to determine the background urinary concentrations of parabens in a representative sample of the general population in Taiwan. A total of 1967 participants were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. The subjects were recruited from the Taiwan Environmental Survey for Toxicants (2013-2016). Urine samples were collected from participants, and questionnaires were administered. Urinary concentrations of parabens, including methylparaben (MeP), ethylparaben (EtP), propylparaben (PrP), and butylparaben (BuP), were quantified through ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. Overall, 95th percentile reference values (RV95s) were used to establish the background concentrations of these parabens. The highest geometric mean concentration was obtained for MeP (357 μg/L), followed by PrP (89.3 μg/L), EtP (34.2 μg/L), and BuP (5.31 μg/L). Urinary concentrations of these parabens were higher in adults than in minors. The RV95s of paraben were 954, 101, 219, and 14.2 μg/L for MeP, EtP, PrP, and BuP, respectively. Of the 1967 participants, 55.4% had a HI value that exceeded the threshold of 1. This finding indicates a potential concern under conservative screening assumptions, rather than definitive evidence of adverse health risk. PrP was identified as the primary determinant of HI, accounting for 71.4% of the observed effect. The RV95s for the urinary concentrations of particular parabens are significantly higher in Taiwan than in other countries. Moreover, a notable correlation was observed between personal care product use and the urinary paraben concentrations. Further evaluation of the health implications of paraben exposure among the Taiwanese population is warranted.