Presence of Parabens and Bisphenols in Food Commonly Consumed in Spain

Abstract

Given the widespread use of bisphenols and parabens in consumer products, the assessment of their intake is crucial and represents the first step towards the assessment of the potential risks that these compounds may pose to human health. In the present study, a total of 98 samples of food items commonly consumed by the Spanish population were collected from different national supermarkets and grocery stores for the determination of parabens and bisphenols. Our analysis demonstrated that 56 of the 98 food samples contained detectable levels of parabens with limits of quantification (LOQ) between 0.4 and 0.9 ng g−1. The total concentration of parabens (sum of four parabens: ∑parabens) ranged from below the LOQ to 281.7 ng g−1, with a mean value of 73.86 ng g−1. A total of 52% of the samples showed detectable concentrations of bisphenols. Bisphenol A (BPA) was the most frequently detected bisphenol in the food samples analysed, followed by bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol E (BPE). Bisphenol AF (BPAF), bisphenol B (BPB) and bisphenol P (BPP) were not found in any of the analysed samples. LOQ for these bisphenols were between 0.4 and 4.0 ng g−1.

Representative Bacillus sp. AM1 from Gut Microbiota Harbor Versatile Molecular Pathways for Bisphenol A Biodegradation

“…isolated strains showed a main cluster related to B. amyloliquefaciens , B. velezensis and B. siamensis ( Figure 1 ), being only C1, C2 and B5 isolates different to the rest of Bacillus spp. The repeated presence of closely related B. amyloliquefaciens isolates in approximately 30% of the analyzed fecal samples suggested differential metabolic detoxifying potential of these species in individuals under high dietary exposure level to BPA [ 7 ] or food endocrine microbiota disruptors (EMD) [ 4 ].…”

“…Dysbiosis, an imbalance in the composition and metabolic capacity of our microbiota, has been related to the cumulative intake of a wide variety of xenobiotic substances that induce obesogenic phenotypes [ 3 ], and act as endocrine disruptors through microbiota interaction [ 4 , 5 ]. Bisphenol A (BPA) and its analogs (bisphenol-B, -S, -F and -E), used as building blocks of polycarbonate plastics, as well as parabens (methyl-, ethyl-, propyl- and phenyl-paraben), used as antimicrobial preservatives, have been associated with metabolic and endocrine/hormonal diseases [ 6 , 7 ]. Phthalates, such as di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, are used as plasticizers and have been shown to exert obesogenic effects, affect the reproduction system, and modify key glycemic parameters [ 8 , 9 ].…”

Factors Associated with Exposure to Dietary Bisphenols in Adolescents

“…Table 2 presents previously reported concentrations of bisphenol in foods [ 53 ]. The presence of bisphenols in nonpacked fruit and vegetables may be explained by the fact that wastewater is the primary source of bisphenols in the environment and it is reused for irrigation [ 54 ].…”

“…Mean consumption of these selected food items was calculated by multiplying consumption frequency (servings/day) by portion size (g). Methodology pertaining to sample analysis and determination of bisphenol levels in the selected foods was previously described [ 52 , 53 ]. Briefly, once an extract of the selected food items was obtained, bisphenol concentrations were analyzed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry.…”

Editorial: Risk of Dietary Hazardous Substances and Impact on Human Microbiota: Possible Role in Several Dysbiosis Phenotypes

“…The cumulative dietary exposure to hazardous substances such as endocrine disruptor chemicals (EDC) that are present in common and processed food is continuously increasing (Gálvez-Ontiveros et al, 2021). Prolonged exposure to EDC seems to affect human health by triggering obesity, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and even infertility (Baker et al, 2017).…”