Concentrations of the sunscreen agent benzophenone-3 in residents of the United States: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003--2004.
BACKGROUND
The capability of benzophenone-3 (BP-3) to absorb and dissipate ultraviolet radiation facilitates its use as a sunscreen agent. BP-3 has other uses in many consumer products (e.g., as fragrance and flavor enhancer, photoinitiator, ultraviolet curing agent, polymerization inhibitor).


OBJECTIVE
Our goal was to assess exposure to BP-3 in a representative sample of the U.S. general population > or = 6 years of age.


METHODS
Using automated solid-phase extraction coupled to high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, we analyzed 2,517 urine samples collected as part of the 2003--2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.


RESULTS
We detected BP-3 in 96.8% of the samples. The geometric mean and 95th percentile concentrations were 22.9 microg/L (22.2 microg/g creatinine) and 1,040 microg/L (1,070 microg/g creatinine), respectively. Least-square geometric mean (LSGM) concentrations were significantly higher (p < or = 0.04) for females than for males, regardless of age. LSGM concentrations were significantly higher for non-Hispanic whites than for non-Hispanic blacks (p < or = 0.01), regardless of age. Females were more likely than males [adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 3.5; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.9-6.5], and non-Hispanic whites were more likely than non-Hispanic blacks (adjusted OR = 6.8; 95% CI, 2.9-16.2) to have concentrations above the 95th percentile.


CONCLUSIONS
Exposure to BP-3 was prevalent in the general U.S. population during 2003--2004. Differences by sex and race/ethnicity probably reflect differences in use of personal care products containing BP-3.
Calafat
Antonia M
AM
Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30341, USA. Acalafat@cdc.gov
Wong
Lee-Yang
LY
Ye
Xiaoyun
X
Reidy
John A
JA
Needham
Larry L
LL
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001577:Benzophenones / Q000652:urine*; D002648:Child; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D044469:Racial Groups; D012737:Sex Factors; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000032:analysis*; D014481:United States
D001577:Benzophenones; D013473:Sunscreening Agents; C005290:oxybenzone