TY - JOUR

T1 - Placental transport of parabens studied using an ex-vivo human perfusion model

AU - Andersen, Maria Helena Guerra

AU - Zuri, Giuseppina

AU - Knudsen, Lisbeth E.

AU - Mathiesen, Line

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - IntroductionParabens are a group of chemicals widely used as preservatives in daily consumer products such as cosmetics, food items, pharmaceuticals and household commodities. They have been broadly detected in human samples indicating a general human exposure, and concerns arose from their potential endocrine disrupting effect. Especially the exposure to parabens during pregnancy is concerning, as the time of fetal development is a particularly vulnerable period. The aim of this study was to investigate the transport and metabolism of four commonly used parabens: methyl-, ethyl-, propyl- and butylparaben (MeP, EtP, PrP and BuP) and the metabolite para-hydroxybenzoic acid (PHBA) across the human placenta.MethodsAn ex-vivo human placental perfusion model was used. The test compounds were added in the maternal compartment (with initial concentrations of 1 mM or 0.1 mM). Placental transport was evaluated by fetal-maternal concentration ratios (FM-ratio), transport index (TI) and indicative permeability (IP).ResultsInformation about parabens kinetics was taken from 10 perfusions and PHBA from 7 perfusions. Paraben metabolism was not detected. The placental transport of MeP, EtP, PrP, BuP and PHBA revealed a transfer from maternal to fetal circulations with FM120 of 0.86 ± 0.27 (MeP), 0.98 ± 0.28 (EtP), 1.00 ± 0.28 (PrP), 1.12 ± 0.59 (BuP) and 0.82 ± 0.37 (PHBA). The test substances accumulated in the perfused tissue in some degree. The average kinetic parameters FM-ratio, TI and IP were not different between chemicals.DiscussionThe present study shows that the placenta barrier is permeable to all four parabens and the metabolite, which implies potential fetal exposure.

AB - IntroductionParabens are a group of chemicals widely used as preservatives in daily consumer products such as cosmetics, food items, pharmaceuticals and household commodities. They have been broadly detected in human samples indicating a general human exposure, and concerns arose from their potential endocrine disrupting effect. Especially the exposure to parabens during pregnancy is concerning, as the time of fetal development is a particularly vulnerable period. The aim of this study was to investigate the transport and metabolism of four commonly used parabens: methyl-, ethyl-, propyl- and butylparaben (MeP, EtP, PrP and BuP) and the metabolite para-hydroxybenzoic acid (PHBA) across the human placenta.MethodsAn ex-vivo human placental perfusion model was used. The test compounds were added in the maternal compartment (with initial concentrations of 1 mM or 0.1 mM). Placental transport was evaluated by fetal-maternal concentration ratios (FM-ratio), transport index (TI) and indicative permeability (IP).ResultsInformation about parabens kinetics was taken from 10 perfusions and PHBA from 7 perfusions. Paraben metabolism was not detected. The placental transport of MeP, EtP, PrP, BuP and PHBA revealed a transfer from maternal to fetal circulations with FM120 of 0.86 ± 0.27 (MeP), 0.98 ± 0.28 (EtP), 1.00 ± 0.28 (PrP), 1.12 ± 0.59 (BuP) and 0.82 ± 0.37 (PHBA). The test substances accumulated in the perfused tissue in some degree. The average kinetic parameters FM-ratio, TI and IP were not different between chemicals.DiscussionThe present study shows that the placenta barrier is permeable to all four parabens and the metabolite, which implies potential fetal exposure.

KW - placenta perfusion

KW - placenta barrier

KW - maternal exposure

KW - fetal exposure

KW - parabens

KW - fetal exposure

KW - maternal exposure

KW - parabens

KW - placenta barrier

KW - placenta perfusion

U2 - 10.1016/j.placenta.2021.09.010

DO - 10.1016/j.placenta.2021.09.010

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 34601208

VL - 115

SP - 121

EP - 128

JO - Placenta

JF - Placenta

SN - 0143-4004

ER -