title: Urinary concentrations of benzophenone-type UV filters in U.S. women and their association with endometriosis.
abstract: Benzophenone (BP)-type UV filters are widely used in a variety of personal care products for the protection of skin and hair from UV irradiation. Despite the estrogenic potencies of BP derivatives, few studies have examined the occurrence of these compounds in human matrices. Furthermore, associations among exposure to these compounds and estrogen-dependent diseases (such as endometriosis) have not been examined previously. In this study, we determined the concentrations of five BP derivatives, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone (2OH-4MeO-BP), 2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone (2,4OH-BP), 2,2'-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone (2,2'OH-4MeO-BP), 2,2',4,4'-tetrahydroxybenzophenone (2,2',4,4'OH-BP), and 4-hydroxybenzophenone (4OH-BP), in urine collected from 625 women in Utah and California, using liquid chromatography (LC)-tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). The association of urinary concentrations of BP derivatives with an increase in the odds of a diagnosis of endometriosis was examined in 600 women who underwent laparoscopy/laparotomy (n = 473: operative cohort) or pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (n = 127: population cohort), during 2007-2009. 2OH-4MeO-BP, 2,4OH-BP, and 4OH-BP respectively were detected in 99.0%, 93.3%, and 83.8% of the urine samples analyzed, whereas the detection rates for 2,2',4,4'OH-BP and 2,2'OH-4MeO-BP were below 6.0%. Significant regional differences (higher concentrations in California) and monthly variations (higher concentrations in July and August) were found for urinary concentrations of 2OH-4MeO-BP and 2,4OH-BP. In addition, urinary concentrations of 2OH-4MeO-BP and 2,4OH-BP tended to be higher in more affluent, older, and leaner women. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated for the urinary concentrations of BP derivatives and the odds of an endometriosis diagnosis; ORs increased across quartiles of 2OH-4MeO-BP and 2,4OH-BP concentrations, but a significant trend was observed only between 2,4OH-BP and the odds of an endometriosis diagnosis in the operative cohort (OR = 1.19; 95% CI = 1.01, 1.41). When women in the highest quartile of 2,4OH-BP concentrations were compared with women in the first three quartiles, the OR increased considerably (OR = 1.65; 95% CI = 1.07, 2.53). Given that 2,4OH-BP possesses an estrogenic activity higher than that of 2OH-4MeO-BP, our results invite the speculation that exposure to elevated 2,4OH-BP levels may be associated with endometriosis.
authors.affiliation: Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, School of Public Health, State University of New York at Albany, Empire State Plaza, P.O. Box 509, Albany, New York 12201-0509, United States.
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kunisue
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Germaine M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Buck Louis
authors.forename: Rajeshwari
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sundaram
authors.forename: Mary L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Hediger
authors.forename: Liping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Kurunthachalam
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kannan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001577:Benzophenones / Q000652:urine*; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000652:urine; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000652:urine*; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016017:Odds Ratio; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000032:analysis*; D014589:Utah / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001577:Benzophenones; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal; D013473:Sunscreening Agents