Investigating exposure to endocrine disruptors via hair analysis of pregnant women

The aim of this study was the monitoring of the levels of parabens (PBs) and triclosan (TCS) in head hair samples of women collected during the first months of their pregnancy. Personal details concerning somatometric and demographic characteristics, dietary habits, use of personal care products and the medical and obstetrical history of the pregnant women as well as infants' somatometric characteristics and health condition were recorded through relevant questionnaires. Ninety five hair samples were collected, extracted by solid–liquid extraction and analysed using a liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry system (LC-MS). Analysis revealed high percentage of positive samples for all tested compounds (90–100% except from BePB (15.8%)). The mean concentration levels were 4501.2 pg/mg (17.6–27,437.0 pg/mg) for MePB; 510.1 pg/mg (11.0–4224.5 pg/mg) for EtPB; 22.9 pg/mg (2.1–66.6 pg/mg) for BePB; 237.1 pg/mg (1.8–2513.7 pg/mg) for BuPB and 245.0 pg/mg (8.8–8070.2 pg/mg) for TCS. Statistical analysis of both analytical results and questionnaires' data showed that the frequent use of personal care and hygiene products, such as makeup, hairspray and sunscreens, is correlated with higher levels of PBs in hair of the pregnant women. Additionally, positive correlation was observed between the BePB levels in hair and the infants' height. Finally, no other correlation was observed between endocrine disruptors' levels in maternal hair and infants' somatometric characteristics or health condition. Our study is the first one that determined PBs and TCS levels in hair samples, simultaneously. At the same time, correlation of the detected levels with the use of personal care products was accomplished, leading to significant association of BePB levels in hair of pregnant women with infants' height.