Parabens, bisphenols, and other environmental phenols exposure from cosmetics use in Korean adolescent girls: Findings from a 2-day intervention study

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), such as bisphenols, parabens, and benzophenones, are commonly found in personal care products (PCPs) and pose a significant public health concern, particularly in adolescent girls. This study aimed to investigate the association between PCP use and urinary concentrations of environmental phenols in Korean adolescent girls, focusing on the potential role of PCPs as a major source of EDC exposure. A total of 112 female adolescents (aged 13–17 years) were recruited to examine the associations between urinary concentrations of parabens, bisphenols, benzophenones, and other environmental phenols and the self-reported frequency of PCP use (e.g., skincare products, sunscreen, cosmetics, and eye/lip products). In a subsequent two-day intervention restricting cosmetic use, involving a subpopulation of 74 participants, the changes in urinary chemical concentrations were assessed. Baseline findings showed an association between frequent PCP use and higher urinary concentrations of parabens (e.g., methyl, ethyl, and propyl parabens), bisphenol A (BPA), and benzophenone (e.g., benzophenone-1). After the two-day intervention, no significant reductions in EDCs concentrations were observed for the entire intervention participants (n = 74). However, when excluding adolescents with no baseline PCP use (n = 22), substantial reductions were shown in BPA (by 32.7 %), and benzophenones (by 11.9 %–22.8 %). This study contributes to the limited research on EDC exposure in adolescent populations and underscores the need for targeted public health interventions and policy measures to protect vulnerable populations from the potential health risks associated with EDC exposure.