Ten-year trends in urinary concentrations of triclosan and benzophenone-3 in the general U.S. population from 2003 to 2012

Despite their popular use and emerging evidences of adverse health effects, consequent trends in population level triclosan and benzophenone-3 exposure have been poorly evaluated. Therefore, we examined temporal trends of urinary triclosan and benzophenone-3 concentration in the general U.S. population by combining five cycles of National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES, 2003–2012) data. We calculated percent changes and the least square geometric means (LSGMs) of urinary triclosan and benzophenone-3 concentration from 10,232 participants by using multivariable regression models. As a result, LSGM concentration of urinary triclosan and benzophenone-3 did not show statistically significant changes over the study period. [Percent change (95% CI): Triclosan, −7.35% (−20.86, 8.47); Benzophenone-3, 7.08% (−27.88, 58.99)] However, we found decreasing trend of urinary triclosan concentration and increasing trend of urinary benzophenone-3 concentration since 2005–2006. Socio-demographic factors which affected urinary concentration of triclosan and benzophenone-3 persisted throughout 10 year study period. Highest income group showed higher level of urinary triclosan and benzophenone-3 concentration. Overall concentration of benzophenone-3 was higher in female than in male, and higher in non-Hispanic Whites than any other races/ethnicities. - Highlights: • We analyzed 2003–2012 NHANES to evaluate temporal trends in triclosan and BP3 exposure levels. • There was decreasing trend of urinary triclosan concentration since 2005–2006. • There was increasing trend of urinary BP3 concentration since 2005–2006. • Urinary triclosan and BP3 concentration of each NHANES cycle varied by socio-demographic factors. - In the analysis of 2003–2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys data, we found decreasing trend of urinary triclosan concentration and increasing trend of urinary Benzophenone-3 concentration since 2005–2006.