Reducing Phthalate, Paraben, and Phenol Exposure from Personal Care Products in Adolescent Girls: Findings from the HERMOSA Intervention Study.

BACKGROUND: Personal care products are a source of exposure to potentially endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as phthalates, parabens, triclosan, and benzophenone-3 (BP-3) for adolescent girls. METHODS: We enrolled 100 Latina girls in a youth-led, community-based participatory research intervention study to determine whether using personal care products whose labels stated they did not contain these chemicals for 3 days could lower urinary concentrations. Pre- and postintervention urine samples were analyzed for phthalate metabolites, parabens, triclosan, and BP-3 using high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Urinary concentrations of mono-ethyl phthalate (MEP) decreased by 27.4% (95% CI: -39.3, -13.2) on average over the 3-day intervention; no significant changes were seen in urinary concentrations of mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP) and mono-isobutyl phthalate (MiBP). Methyl and propyl paraben concentrations decreased by 43.9% (95% CI: -61.3, -18.8) and 45.4% (95% CI: -63.7, -17.9), respectively. Unexpectedly, concentrations of ethyl and butyl paraben concentrations increased, although concentrations were low overall and not detected in almost half the samples. Triclosan concentrations decreased by 35.7% (95% CI: -53.3, -11.6), and BP-3 concentrations decreased by 36.0% (95% CI: -51.0, -16.4). DISCUSSION: This study demonstrates that techniques available to consumers, such as choosing personal care products that are labeled to be free of phthalates, parabens, triclosan, and BP-3, can reduce personal exposure to possible endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Involving youth in the design and implementation of the study was key to recruitment, retention, compliance, and acceptability of the intervention. CITATION: Harley KG, Kogut K, Madrigal DS, Cardenas M, Vera IA, Meza-Alfaro G, She J, Gavin Q, Zahedi R, Bradman A, Eskenazi B, Parra KL. 2016. Reducing phthalate, paraben, and phenol exposure from personal care products in adolescent girls: findings from the HERMOSA Intervention Study. Environ Health Perspect 124:1600-1607; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1510514.

Exposición ocupacional a plomo y cadmio en personal / Occupational exposure to lead and cadmium among healthcare workers

Con el fin de contribuir a evitar las consecuencias potencialmente graves derivadas de la exposición crónica a plomo y cadmio, se describe la situación de exposición ocupacional a estos metales de un grupo de trabajadores de un hospital público de la Región Metropolitana. Se describen parámetros bioquímicos relacionados con la exposición a Pb y Cd al momento de detectarse el problema y al cabo de dos años de haber implementado medidas protectoras. Se trata de un estudio de cohorte histórico único, usando información secundaria. Inicialmente se encuentra niveles promedio de plomo en sangre, ZPP y cadmio en orina dentro del rango normal; después de la intervención se observa una variación significativa en estos parámetros lo cual señala la efectividad de la intervención preventiva. Los exámenes funcionales de órganos o sistemas potencialmente afectados por la exposición no muestran alteraciones ni variaciones significativas pre y post intervención. Se pone en evidencia que las intoxicaciones por plomo y cadmio son un problema presente en el ámbito laboral chileno y que las medidas de protección aplicadas a los trabajadores son eficaces, especialmente si se detecta precozmente el problema, antes de que se evidencien repercusiones derivadas de la intoxicación crónica.