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Jäger T, Eckert E, Leibold E, Bader M. A specific and sensitive GC-MS-MS method for the quantitative determination of 2-phenoxyethanol and selected metabolites in human blood and urine. J Anal Toxicol 2024; 48:419-428. [PMID: 38662393 DOI: 10.1093/jat/bkae037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
2-Phenoxyethanol (PhE) is widely used as a preservative in consumer products such as cosmetics as well as at the workplace as a component of metal-working fluids and hydraulic fluids. Therefore, both industry workers and consumers may potentially be exposed to PhE. An analytical method for the quantification of PhE and three selected metabolites, namely phenoxyacetic acid (PhAA), 4-hydroxyphenoxyacetic acid (4-OH-PhAA), and 4-hydroxyphenoxyethanol (4-OH-PhE), in human urine and blood was developed and validated. The sample preparation includes enzymatic hydrolysis of urine samples or protein precipitation of blood samples, followed by liquid-liquid extraction and silylation of the target analytes. Analyses of the extracts were carried out by gas chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS-MS). 3,4-Hydroxyphenoxyethanol, a probably minor PhE metabolite, could not be reliably analyzed due to its instability. The limits of quantification (LOQ) of the analytes ranged between 0.5 and 6.1 μg/L and 2.0 and 3.9 μg/L in urine and blood, respectively. The method was successfully applied to spot urine samples of 50 individuals without occupational exposure to PhE and additionally to blood samples from seven volunteers. In urine, PhAA and 4-OH-PhAA could be quantified in all analyzed samples, whereas 4-OH-PhE and unchanged PhE were found in 36% and 32% of the samples, respectively. In blood, PhAA was also found in every sample in levels above the LOQ, whereas PhE itself was detected in three of seven samples only. Neither 4-OH-PhAA nor 4-OH-PhE was found in any of the analyzed blood samples. The developed method promises to be a valuable tool for PhE monitoring of urine and blood samples and may also enable an advanced investigation of PhE biotransformation pathways in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Jäger
- Corporate Health Management, BASF SE, Carl-Bosch-Str. 38, Ludwigshafen 67056, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Eckert
- Institute and Outpatient Clinic of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) , Henkestr. 9-11, Erlangen 91054, Germany
- Department of Risk Assessment, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Eggenreuther Weg 43, Erlangen 91058, Germany
| | - Edgar Leibold
- Product Safety, BASF SE, Carl-Bosch-Str. 38, Ludwigshafen 67056, Germany
| | - Michael Bader
- Corporate Health Management, BASF SE, Carl-Bosch-Str. 38, Ludwigshafen 67056, Germany
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Eckert E, Jäger T, Hiller J, Leibold E, Bader M, Göen T. Biotransformation and toxicokinetics of 2-phenoxyethanol after oral exposure in humans: a volunteer study. Arch Toxicol 2024; 98:1771-1780. [PMID: 38668861 PMCID: PMC11106153 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-024-03717-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
2-Phenoxyethanol (PhE) is an aromatic glycol ether and is used in a variety of functions and applications, e.g., as preservative in pharmaceuticals, cosmetic and personal care products, as biocide in disinfectants (e.g. human hygiene), or as a solvent in formulations (e.g. coatings, functional fluids). Despite its widespread use, little is yet known on its biotransformation and toxicokinetics in humans. Therefore, a pilot study was conducted with oral administration of PhE (5 mg/kg body weight) to five volunteers. Blood and urine samples were collected and analyzed for PhE and three of its presumed metabolites up to 48 h post-exposure. Additionally, one volunteer was dermally exposed to PhE and monitored until 72 h post-exposure. PhE was rapidly resorbed following both oral and dermal application with tmax-levels in blood of about 1 h and 3 h, respectively. Metabolism of PhE was observed to be rather extensive with phenoxyacetic acid (PhAA) and 4-hydroxyphenoxyacetic acid (4-OH-PhAA) as the main metabolites found in blood and urine following oral and dermal exposure. PhE was excreted rapidly and efficiently via urine mostly in metabolized form: following oral exposure, on average 77% and 12% of the applied dose was excreted within 48 h as PhAA and 4-OH-PhAA, respectively. A similar metabolism pattern was observed following the single dermal exposure experiment. The obtained data on biotransformation and toxicokinetics of PhE in humans provide valuable information on this important chemical and will be highly useful for pharmacokinetic modelling and evaluation of human PhE exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Eckert
- Institute and Outpatient Clinic of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Erlangen, Germany.
| | - Thomas Jäger
- BASF SE, Corporate Health Management, Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | - Julia Hiller
- Institute and Outpatient Clinic of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | | | - Michael Bader
- BASF SE, Corporate Health Management, Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | - Thomas Göen
- Institute and Outpatient Clinic of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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Jäger T, Eckert E, Leibold E, Bader M. Reliable determination of the main metabolites of 2-phenoxyethanol in human blood and urine using LC-MS/MS analysis. ANALYTICAL METHODS : ADVANCING METHODS AND APPLICATIONS 2022; 14:4408-4417. [PMID: 36300334 DOI: 10.1039/d2ay01407f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
2-Phenoxyethanol (PhE) is used as a broad-spectrum preservative in several consumer products like cosmetics and cleaning agents. To enable the analysis and assessment of human exposure to PhE, a fast and sensitive LC-MS/MS method for the quantification of two PhE metabolites, namely phenoxyacetic acid (PhAA) and 4-hydroxyphenoxyacetic acid (4-OH-PhAA) in human urine and blood was developed and validated. The method is based on liquid chromatography combined with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Sample preparation was different for both matrices: either a simple "dilute&shoot"-approach for urine samples or a liquid-liquid-extraction (LLE) for blood samples was used. The limit of quantification (LOQ) is 10 μg L-1 and 6 μg L-1 for PhAA and 20 μg L-1 and 10 μg L-1 for 4-OH-PhAA in urine and blood, respectively. The method was applied to urine samples of 153 persons without occupational exposure to PhE and to blood samples of 7 additional volunteers. In blood, PhAA was detected in 57% of all samples (range: <LOQ - 0.017 mg L-1), while 4-OH-PhAA was not detectable. In contrast to that, PhAA was found in 99% and 4-OH-PhAA in 95% of all urine samples. The median concentrations in urine were 0.99 mg L-1 (range: <LOQ - 53.83 mg L-1) for PhAA and 0.11 mg L-1 (<LOQ - 4.98 mg L-1) for 4-OH-PhAA, respectively. Analyses after acid hydrolysis showed that both urinary metabolites are excreted unconjugated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Jäger
- BASF SE, Corporate Health Management, Ludwigshafen, Germany.
| | - Elisabeth Eckert
- Institute and Outpatient Clinic of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | | | - Michael Bader
- BASF SE, Corporate Health Management, Ludwigshafen, Germany.
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Fillol C, Oleko A, Saoudi A, Zeghnoun A, Balicco A, Gane J, Rambaud L, Leblanc A, Gaudreau É, Marchand P, Le Bizec B, Bouchart V, Le Gléau F, Durand G, Denys S. Exposure of the French population to bisphenols, phthalates, parabens, glycol ethers, brominated flame retardants, and perfluorinated compounds in 2014-2016: Results from the Esteban study. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 147:106340. [PMID: 33422968 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.106340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND As part of the French Human Biomonitoring (HBM) programme, the Esteban study described, among other things, biomarkers levels of various chemicals in adults (18-74 years old) and children (6-17 years old). This paper describes the design of the study and provides, for the first time, data on the biological exposure of the general French population to a wide range of contaminants posing a threat to human health which are currently found in domestic environments. METHODS Esteban is a cross-sectional study conducted on a nationwide sample of the French general population. Exposure biomarkers of six families of contaminants deemed detrimental to adults' and children's health were measured in biological samples collected either at participants' homes by a nurse, or brought to a National Health Insurance examination centre. All participants were randomly selected (2503 adults and 1104 children). The geometric mean and percentiles of the distribution of levels were estimated for each biomarker. Most of the descriptive statistical analyses were performed taking into account the sampling design. RESULTS Results provided a nationwide description of biomarker levels. Bisphenols (A, S and F), and some metabolites of phthalates and perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) (specifically, PFOS and PFOA) were quantified in almost all the biological samples analysed. Higher levels were observed in children (except for PFCs). Levels were coherent with international studies, except for bisphenols S and F, brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and parabens (with higher levels reported in the USA than in France). CONCLUSION AND PERSPECTIVES This study is the first to provide a representative assessment of biological exposure to domestic contaminants at the French population level. Our results show that the French general population was exposed to a wide variety of pollutants in 2014-2016, and identify the determinants of exposure. These findings will be useful to stakeholders who wish to advocate an overall reduction in the French population's exposure to harmful substances. Similar future studies in France will help to measure temporal trends, and enable public policies focused on the reduction of those chemicals in the environment to be evaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clémence Fillol
- Santé publique France, 12 rue du Val d'Osne, 94415 Saint Maurice Cedex, France.
| | - Amivi Oleko
- Santé publique France, 12 rue du Val d'Osne, 94415 Saint Maurice Cedex, France
| | - Abdesattar Saoudi
- Santé publique France, 12 rue du Val d'Osne, 94415 Saint Maurice Cedex, France
| | - Abdelkrim Zeghnoun
- Santé publique France, 12 rue du Val d'Osne, 94415 Saint Maurice Cedex, France
| | - Alexis Balicco
- Santé publique France, 12 rue du Val d'Osne, 94415 Saint Maurice Cedex, France
| | - Jessica Gane
- Santé publique France, 12 rue du Val d'Osne, 94415 Saint Maurice Cedex, France
| | - Loïc Rambaud
- Santé publique France, 12 rue du Val d'Osne, 94415 Saint Maurice Cedex, France
| | - Alain Leblanc
- Centre de Toxicologie du Québec (CTQ), Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec (INSPQ), Canada
| | - Éric Gaudreau
- Centre de Toxicologie du Québec (CTQ), Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec (INSPQ), Canada
| | - Philippe Marchand
- Oniris, INRAE, LABERCA Route de Gachet, Site de la Chantrerie, CS 50707, 44307 Nantes Cedex 3, France
| | - Bruno Le Bizec
- Oniris, INRAE, LABERCA Route de Gachet, Site de la Chantrerie, CS 50707, 44307 Nantes Cedex 3, France
| | - Valérie Bouchart
- LABEO, 1 Route de Rosel, Saint Contest, 14053 Caen Cedex 4, France
| | | | - Gaël Durand
- LABOCEA, 120 avenue de Rochon, CS10052, 29280 Plouzané, France
| | - Sébastien Denys
- Santé publique France, 12 rue du Val d'Osne, 94415 Saint Maurice Cedex, France
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Tillaut H, Garlantézec R, Warembourg C, Monfort C, Le Gléau F, Rouget F, Multigner L, Cordier S, Saint-Amour D, Chevrier C. Prenatal exposure to glycol ethers and visual contrast sensitivity in 6-year-old children in the PELAGIE mother-child cohort. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2020; 231:113635. [PMID: 33091684 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2020.113635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 10/04/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal occupational exposure to organic solvents during pregnancy has been associated with decreased visual function in offspring. Glycol ethers (GEs) belong to oxygenated solvents and are widely used both in occupational and domestic contexts. OBJECTIVES We aimed to assess associations between prenatal GEs exposure and contrast sensitivity in children. METHODS Six GE alkoxy carboxylic acidic metabolites (methoxyacetic acid [MAA], ethoxyacetic acid [EAA], ethoxyethoxyacetic acid [EEAA], butoxyacetic acid [BAA], phenoxyacetic acid [PhAA], and 2-methoxypropionic acid [2-MPA]) were measured in first morning void urine samples collected from 220 early-pregnancy women, in the mother-child PELAGIE cohort (France). Trained investigators administered the Functional Acuity Contrast Test (FACT) to the 6-year-old children, providing scores for 5 spatial frequencies (1.5-18 cycles per degree (cpd)). We standardized biomarker urinary concentrations on urine sampling conditions. Values below the LOD were imputed based on log-normal distribution, generating five datasets for multiple imputation. Linear regression models were adjusted for potential confounders. RESULTS GE metabolites were detected in 70-98% of maternal urine samples. Phenoxyacetic acid (PhAA) had the highest median concentration (0.33 mg/L), and 2-methoxypropionic acid (2-MPA) the lowest (0.01 mg/L). Children with higher prenatal PhAA concentrations had poorer FACT scores at various spatial frequencies (fourth vs. first quartile: β18cpd = -0.90 (95% confidence interval CI = -1.64, -0.16), β12cpd = -0.92 (95%CI = -1.55, -0.29) and β1.5cpd = -0.69 (95%CI = -1.19, -0.20)). The 2-MPA log-scale concentration was negatively associated with the FACT score at the 3-cpd stimulus. DISCUSSION PhAA is the metabolite of ethylene glycol monophenyl ether present in many cosmetics. 2-MPA is the metabolite of an isomer of propylene glycol methyl ether commonly present in household and industrial cleaning products. Although evidence of biological plausibility is lacking, the study suggests adverse impact of ubiquitous prenatal exposure to some GE on visual functioning among children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hélène Tillaut
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé environnement et travail), UMR_S 1085, Rennes, France; Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Rennes University, EHESP, REPERES - EA7449, F-35000, Rennes, France.
| | - Ronan Garlantézec
- Univ Rennes, CHU Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé environnement et travail), UMR_S 1085, Rennes, France.
| | - Charline Warembourg
- ISGlobal, Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiologa y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Christine Monfort
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé environnement et travail), UMR_S 1085, Rennes, France.
| | | | - Florence Rouget
- Univ Rennes, CHU Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé environnement et travail), UMR_S 1085, Rennes, France.
| | - Luc Multigner
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé environnement et travail), UMR_S 1085, Rennes, France.
| | - Sylvaine Cordier
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé environnement et travail), UMR_S 1085, Rennes, France.
| | - Dave Saint-Amour
- Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
| | - Cécile Chevrier
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé environnement et travail), UMR_S 1085, Rennes, France.
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Warembourg C, Binter AC, Giton F, Fiet J, Labat L, Monfort C, Chevrier C, Multigner L, Cordier S, Garlantézec R. Prenatal exposure to glycol ethers and sex steroid hormones at birth. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2018; 113:66-73. [PMID: 29421409 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2017] [Revised: 01/15/2018] [Accepted: 01/15/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glycol ethers (GEs) are oxygenated solvents widely found in occupational and consumer water-based products. Some of them are well-known reproductive and developmental toxicants. OBJECTIVES To study the variations in circulating sex steroid hormones, measured in cord blood, according to biomarkers of prenatal GE exposure. METHODS The study population comes from the PELAGIE mother-child cohort, which enrolled pregnant women from Brittany (France, 2002-2006). Maternal urine samples were collected from a random subcohort (n = 338) before 19 weeks' gestation, from which we measured 8 alkoxycarboxylic metabolites of GEs. We subsequently measured 13 sex steroid hormones and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) in cord blood samples. Linear regressions adjusted for potential confounders were used, and nonlinear dose-response associations were investigated. RESULTS The detection rates of GE metabolites ranged from 4% to 98%; only the 5 most detected (>20%) metabolites were investigated further. Phenoxyacetic acid (detection rate > 95%) was associated with lower levels of SHBG and various steroids (17-alpha-hydroxy-Pregnenolone, delta-5-androstenediol, and dehydroepiandrosterone) among boys and higher SHBG and 16-alpha-hydroxy-dehydroepiandrosterone levels among girls. The two other highly detected metabolites, methoxyetoxyacetic acid and butoxyacetic acid, were associated with variations in estradiol. Butoxyacetic acid was associated with higher delta-5-androstenediol levels while detectable levels of methoxyacetic acid were associated with lower levels of this hormone. CONCLUSION Our study suggests that prenatal exposure to GE may affect endocrine response patterns, estimated by determining blood levels of sex steroid hormones in newborns. These results raise questions about the potential role of these changes in the pathways between prenatal GE exposure and previously reported adverse developmental outcomes, including impaired neurocognitive performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charline Warembourg
- Inserm UMR 1085 Irset, Exposure Assessment and Epidemiological Research on Environment, Reproduction and Development, F-35000 Rennes, France; Université de Rennes I, F-35043 Rennes, France..
| | - Anne-Claire Binter
- Inserm UMR 1085 Irset, Exposure Assessment and Epidemiological Research on Environment, Reproduction and Development, F-35000 Rennes, France; Université de Rennes I, F-35043 Rennes, France
| | - Frank Giton
- AP-HP, Pôle biologie-Pathologie Henri Mondor, Créteil 94000, France.; INSERM U955 eq07, Recherche Translationnelle en oncogenèse génitale, Créteil 94000, France
| | - Jean Fiet
- INSERM U955 eq07, Recherche Translationnelle en oncogenèse génitale, Créteil 94000, France
| | - Laurence Labat
- Assistance publique-hopitaux de Paris, Groupe Cochin, Laboratoire Pharmacologie Toxicologie, F-75004 Paris, France
| | - Christine Monfort
- Inserm UMR 1085 Irset, Exposure Assessment and Epidemiological Research on Environment, Reproduction and Development, F-35000 Rennes, France; Université de Rennes I, F-35043 Rennes, France
| | - Cécile Chevrier
- Inserm UMR 1085 Irset, Exposure Assessment and Epidemiological Research on Environment, Reproduction and Development, F-35000 Rennes, France; Université de Rennes I, F-35043 Rennes, France
| | - Luc Multigner
- Inserm UMR 1085 Irset, Exposure Assessment and Epidemiological Research on Environment, Reproduction and Development, F-35000 Rennes, France; Université de Rennes I, F-35043 Rennes, France
| | - Sylvaine Cordier
- Inserm UMR 1085 Irset, Exposure Assessment and Epidemiological Research on Environment, Reproduction and Development, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - Ronan Garlantézec
- Inserm UMR 1085 Irset, Exposure Assessment and Epidemiological Research on Environment, Reproduction and Development, F-35000 Rennes, France; Université de Rennes I, F-35043 Rennes, France.; Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire de Rennes, Service de Santé Publique et d'Epidémiologie, F-35033 Rennes, France
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[Indoor air guide values for 2-phenoxyethanol]. Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz 2018; 61:488-493. [PMID: 29589092 DOI: 10.1007/s00103-018-2707-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Nisse C, Labat L, Thomas J, Leroyer A. Caractérisation de l’exposition aux éthers de glycol d’un échantillon de population générale du Nord–Pas-de-Calais par biométrologie urinaire. TOXICOLOGIE ANALYTIQUE ET CLINIQUE 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxac.2017.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Warembourg C, Botton J, Lelong N, Rouget F, Khoshnood B, Le Gléau F, Monfort C, Labat L, Pierre F, Heude B, Slama R, Multigner L, Charles MA, Cordier S, Garlantézec R. Prenatal exposure to glycol ethers and cryptorchidism and hypospadias: a nested case–control study. Occup Environ Med 2017; 75:59-65. [DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2017-104391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2017] [Revised: 09/02/2017] [Accepted: 10/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
ObjectivesGlycol ethers (GE) are oxygenated solvents frequently found in occupational and consumer products. Some of them are well-known testicular and developmental animal toxicants. This study aims to evaluate the risk of male genital anomalies in association with prenatal exposure to GE using urinary biomarkers of exposure.MethodsWe conducted a case–control study nested in two joint mother–child cohorts (5303 pregnant women). Cases of cryptorchidism and hypospadias were identified at birth and confirmed during a 2-year follow-up period (n=14 cryptorchidism and n=15 hypospadias). Each case was matched to three randomly selected controls within the cohorts for region of inclusion and gestational age at urine sampling. Concentrations of five GE acidic metabolites were measured in spot maternal urine samples collected during pregnancy. ORs were estimated with multivariate conditional logistic regressions including a Firth’s penalisation.ResultsDetection rates of urinary GE metabolites ranged from 8% to 93% and only two were sufficiently detected (>33%) in each cohort to be studied: methoxyacetic acid (MAA) and phenoxyacetic acid (PhAA). A significantly higher risk of hypospadias was associated with the highest tertile of exposure to MAA: OR (95% CI) 4.5(1.4 to 23.4). No association were observed with urinary concentration of PhAA, nor with the risk of cryptorchidism.ConclusionsIn view of the toxicological plausibility of our results, this study, despite its small sample size, raises concern about the potential developmental toxicity of MAA on the male genital system and calls for thorough identification of current sources of exposure to MAA.
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Garlantézec R, Warembourg C, Monfort C, Labat L, Pulkkinen J, Bonvallot N, Multigner L, Chevrier C, Cordier S. Urinary glycol ether metabolites in women and time to pregnancy: the PELAGIE cohort. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2013; 121:1167-73. [PMID: 23838187 PMCID: PMC3801453 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1206103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2012] [Accepted: 07/08/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glycol ethers are present in a wide range of occupational and domestic products. Animal studies have suggested that some of them may affect ovarian function. OBJECTIVE We examined the relation between women's exposure to glycol ethers and time to pregnancy. METHODS We used chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry to measure eight glycol ether metabolites in urine samples from randomly selected women in the PELAGIE mother-child cohort who had samples collected before 19 weeks of gestation. Using time to pregnancy information collected at the beginning of the pregnancy (women were asked how many months it took for them to conceive), we estimated associations between metabolite levels and time to pregnancy in 519 women with complete data using discrete-time Cox proportional hazards models to adjust for potential confounders. RESULTS We detected glycol ether metabolites in 6% (for ethoxyacetic acid) to 93% (for phenoxyacetic and butoxyacetic acids) of urine samples. Phenoxyacetic acid was the only metabolite with a statistically significant association with longer time to pregnancy [fecundability OR = 0.82; 95% CI: 0.63, 1.06 for the second and third quartile combined; fecundability OR = 0.70; 95% CI: 0.52, 0.95 for a fourth-quartile (≥ 1.38 mg/L) vs. first-quartile concentration (< 0.14 mg/L)]. This association remained stable after multiple sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSION Phenoxyacetic acid, which was present in most of the urine samples tested in our study, was associated with increased time to pregnancy. This metabolite and its main parent compound, 2-phenoxyethanol, are plausible causes of decreased fecundability, but they may also be surrogates for potential coexposures to compounds frequently present in cosmetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronan Garlantézec
- INSERM (Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale), U1085 IRSET (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail), Rennes, France
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Fromme H, Nitschke L, Boehmer S, Kiranoglu M, Göen T. Exposure of German residents to ethylene and propylene glycol ethers in general and after cleaning scenarios. CHEMOSPHERE 2013; 90:2714-2721. [PMID: 23290947 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2012.11.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2012] [Revised: 10/02/2012] [Accepted: 11/24/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Glycol ethers are a class of semi-volatile substances used as solvents in a variety of consumer products like cleaning agents, paints, cosmetics as well as chemical intermediates. We determined 11 metabolites of ethylene and propylene glycol ethers in 44 urine samples of German residents (background level study) and in urine samples of individuals after exposure to glycol ethers during cleaning activities (exposure study). In the study on the background exposure, methoxyacetic acid and phenoxyacetic acid (PhAA) could be detected in each urine sample with median (95th percentile) values of 0.11 mgL(-1) (0.30 mgL(-1)) and 0.80 mgL(-1) (23.6 mgL(-1)), respectively. The other metabolites were found in a limited number of samples or in none. In the exposure study, 5-8 rooms were cleaned with a cleaner containing ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (EGBE), propylene glycol monobutyl ether (PGBE), or ethylene glycol monopropyl ether (EGPE). During cleaning the mean levels in the indoor air were 7.5 mgm(-3) (EGBE), 3.0 mgm(-3) (PGBE), and 3.3 mgm(-3) (EGPE), respectively. The related metabolite levels analysed in the urine of the residents of the rooms at the day of cleaning were 2.4 mgL(-1) for butoxyacetic acid, 0.06 mgL(-1) for 2-butoxypropionic acid, and 2.3 mgL(-1) for n-propoxyacetic acid. Overall, our study indicates that the exposure of the population to glycol ethers is generally low, with the exception of PhAA. Moreover, the results of the cleaning scenarios demonstrate that the use of indoor cleaning agents containing glycol ethers can lead to a detectable internal exposure of residents.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Fromme
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Department of Chemical Safety and Toxicology, D-80538 Munich, Germany.
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Exposure During Pregnancy to Glycol Ethers and Chlorinated Solvents and the Risk of Congenital Malformations. Epidemiology 2012; 23:806-12. [DOI: 10.1097/ede.0b013e31826c2bd8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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