Concentrations of urinary parabens and reproductive hormones in Iranian women: Exposure and risk assessment.

Parabens are antimicrobial preservatives in a variety of processed foods and beverages, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products. Parabens may be associated with reproductive and endocrine disorders among women of reproductive age. The first objective of this study was to examine the association between urinary parabens concentrations and follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and prolactin disorders. The second objective of this study was to calculate the Hazard Quotient (HQ) and Margin of Exposure (MOE) to assess the potential risk for endocrine disrupts for each woman based on urinary paraben concentrations. To address these two objectives, a cross-sectional study was designed in the Imam Reza Hospital in Kermanshah. The association between early morning urinary paraben concentrations and the serum of fasting blood specimens was analyzed using multivariable linear regressions adjusted for confounding variables (i.e., creatinine, age, body mass index, and time spent on physical activity). Among the 96 women who participated in the study, those with BMI> 25 and aged 18-40 years showed higher levels of total urinary parabens. The highest sum of urinary parabens (54,955.16 µg/L) was observed among the women who were using toothpaste several times per day. Almost all the parabens such as methyl paraben(MeP), ethyl paraben(EtP), propyl paraben(PrP), butyl paraben(BuP) had a positive and negative significant association with serum concentrations of FSH and LH (p-value < 0.05). However, no significant association was found between any of the four parabens and serum prolactin hormone (p-value > 0.05). The Margin of Exposure (MOE) approach calculated for all parabens (<10000) showed a potential risk in the studied population. The results suggested that parabens could adversely affect reproductive and endocrine systems in women. Further studies relying on long-term exposure to parabens are necessary to better understand the potential risk of the association between urinary parabens concentrations with reproductive hormones.

Relationship of Urinary Phthalate Metabolites with Cardiometabolic Risk Factors and Oxidative Stress Markers in Children and Adolescents.

Introduction: Studies have proved that exposure of adults to phthalates might be related to cardiometabolic risk factors and changes in markers of oxidative stress. Such studies conducted on school-age children and adolescents are limited and fail to assess the simultaneous effect of phthalates on these risk factors and oxidative stress markers. Therefore, it was attempted to identify the relationship of urinary phthalate metabolites with cardiometabolic risk factors and oxidative stress markers in children and adolescents. Methods. In this cross-sectional study, 108 children and adolescents, living in Isfahan industrial city of Iran, were examined. Urine samples taken from the participants were analyzed for mono-butyl phthalate (MBP), mono-benzyl phthalate (MBzP), mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP), mono-(2-ethyl-5-exohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP), and mono-methyl phthalate (MMP). Results: Results showed that, among phthalate metabolites, MBP had the highest concentration, followed by MBzP, MEOHP, MEHHP, MEHP, and MMP. Concentrations of these metabolites had a significant relationship with some of the cardiometabolic risk factors including systolic blood pressure (SBP), fasting blood sugar (FBS), and triglycerides (TG) (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the crude and adjusted linear regression models indicated the significant association of phthalate metabolites with superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Although urinary phthalate concentrations could not exactly reflect the long-term exposure level in the studied age groups, the consumption of phthalate-free products during childhood and adolescent development shall be assumed helpful in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. To confirm these findings and develop effective intervention strategies, it would be necessary to perform longitudinal studies on diverse population.

Paraben Content in Adjacent Normal-malignant Breast Tissues from Women with Breast Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Accumulation of estrogenic compounds and other carcinogens in normal breast tissues contributes to unpredictable breast cancer incidence during adolescence and throughout life. To assess the role of parabens in this phenomenon, the paraben content of adjacent normal-malignant breast tissues is measured in women with breast cancer living in Isfahan Province, Iran. METHODS: Adjacent normal-malignant breast tissue samples were obtained from 53 subjects. The parabens including methyl-paraben (MePB), ethyl-paraben (EtPB), propyl-paraben (PrPB), and butylparaben (BuPB) were extracted from the sample supernatant and then subjected to gas chromatography analysis. RESULTS: Some risk factors for breast cancer were stimulated by parabens in adjacent malignant-normal breast tissues among young and middle-aged women with breast cancer. We observed a significant association for dose-response pattern of MePB [OR = 98.34 (11.43-185.2), P = 0.027] for both ER+ and PR+ women and MePB [OR = 164.3 (CI: 112.3-216.3), P < 0.001] for HER2+ women than women with negative receptors. The risk of 95-fold increase in MePB dose and 164-fold increase in ΣPBs dose were significant for women with hereditary breast cancer in first-degree relatives. CONCLUSION: These results may promote future epidemiology studies and strategies to improve women's lifestyle and consume paraben-free products.

Pentachlorophenol removal from aqueous solutions by microwave/persulfate and microwave/H2O2: a comparative kinetic study.

Pentachlorophenol (PCP) is one of the most fungicides and pesticides used in wood protection. Poisoning from PCP may be happened in dermal absorption, and respiration or ingestion. With regard to health and environmental effects of PCP, many methods were studied for its removal. Microwave assisted other methods are environmental friendly, safety, and economical method, therefore, in this study; a modified domestic microwave assisted hydrogen peroxide (MW/H2O2) and sodium persulfate (MW/SPS) was used for PCP removal from aqueous solutions. PCP removal rate was measured under different factors such as pH, energy intensity, SPS, H2O2 concentration, Tert- butyl alcohol (TBA) and chemical oxygen demand (COD). The concentration changes of PCP were determined using spectrophotometer and HPLC spectra, respectively. The best removal PCP rate obtained in condition of pH of 11, 0.02 mol L(-1) of SPS, 0.2 mol L(-1) of H2O2 and energy intensity of 600 W. Moreover, COD removals in MW/H2O2 and MW/SPS process were 83% and 94%, respectively, also TBA test decreased 15% and 3% of PCP removal in MW/SPS and MW/H2O2 processes respectively. Experimental results indicated that sulfate radical was stronger than hydroxyl radical and examinations order reaction was in first order. In this study, was cleared that MW/SPS process was more effective than MW/H2O2 process in PCP removal.

Microwave/H2O2 efficiency in pentachlorophenol removal from aqueous solutions.

BACKGROUND: Pentachlorophenol (PCP) is one of the most fungicides and pesticides. Acute and chronic poisoning from PCP may be occurred by dermal absorption, and respiration or ingestion. With respect to health and environmental effects of PCP, many methods were considered regarding its removal. Microwave assisted other methods are environmental friendly, safety, and economical method, consequently, in this study; microwave assisted with hydrogen peroxide (MW/H2O2) was used for PCP removal from aquatic solutions. METHODS: The possible of PCP removal was considered by application of a modified domestic microwave. PCP removal rate was considered under different factors such as H2O2 dose (0.01, 0.02, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 mol/L), PCP concentration (100,200, 300, 400, 500, 750, 1000 mg/L), pH (3, 7, 11), energy intensity (180,450, 600 W), COD (344 mg/L), and scavenger testes (0.02 mol/L from each of Tert- butyl alcohol (TBA), NaCl, NaHCO3, and Na2CO3). The concentration changes of PCP were determined using spectrophotometer and HPLC spectra, respectively. RESULTS: The best PCP removal was obtained in condition of pH 11, 0.2 mol/L H2O2, and 600 W energy intensity. Moreover, COD removal in this condition was 83%. Results obtained from radical scavengers indicated that OH° had only an initiator role, and had not a dominant role, and order reaction was in first order. CONCLUSIONS: The results of microwave/H2O2 application showed that this process is suitable for removal of PCP and other chlorinated organic compounds in alkaline pH.