A large-scale nationwide study of urinary phenols in the Chinese population

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 894; p. 164850
• Main Authors: Huang, Senyuan, Wang, Dedong, Qi, Zenghua, Long, Chaoyang, Li, Guiying, Yu, Yingxin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 10.10.2023
• Subjects: Benzhydryl Compounds - analysis; Benzhydryl Compounds - urine; Bisphenol A; bisphenol S; bottled water; China; decision making; East Asian People; educational status; environment; Environmental Exposure - analysis; food consumption; health effects assessments; Humans; Internal exposure; Monte Carlo method; National scale; Non-carcinogenic risk; phenol; Phenol - urine; Phenols - urine; Polybrominated Biphenyls; risk; Tetrabromobisphenol a; urine; China; Bisphenol A; Non-carcinogenic risk; National scale; Tetrabromobisphenol a; Internal exposure
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164850

Bisphenol A (BPA), tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), and their substitutes are commonly used in everyday products. However, large-scale internal exposure levels of them in China, the factors influencing on them, and the associated health risks were not systematically investigated still. In the present study, there were 1157 morning urine samples collected from residents of 26 provincial capitals in China for the measurement of BPA and seven bisphenol analogues, as well as TBBPA and its substitutes, i.e., tetrachlorobisphenol A and 4,4′-sulphonylbis(2,6-dibromophenol). The concentrations of Σ8bisphenols and Σ3TBBPAs ranged from <LOD to 168 μg/L and from <LOD to 2.25 μg/L, respectively. BPA and bisphenol S were the main environmental phenols. Residents in eastern China were more exposed to bisphenols, which may be due to the regional production of BPA and the diversity of food consumption patterns of the residents. Education level and age were significantly correlated with bisphenol exposure. Subjects with a bachelor's degree or aged 18–44 years appeared to be more exposed to bisphenols, especially for BPA. Subjects who consumed bottled water and takeaways also had higher levels of bisphenols. Based on RfD, the health risk assessment showed that no subjects had hazard quotient values of BPA greater than one unit. Monte Carlo simulation indicated that 0.44 % of the Chinese general population had a potential non-carcinogenic risk from BPA. This large-scale nationwide study is beneficial for governmental decision-making and the prevention of phenol exposure. [Display omitted] •Bisphenols were widely detected in a large-scale Chinese general population.•Bisphenol A was the main contributor of bisphenols in Chinese general population.•Eastern China had the highest levels of bisphenols due to the higher BPA production.•Age, education level, and eating takeaways were associated with bisphenol exposure.•Some of the subjects were exposed to phenols with potential non-carcinogenic risk.