Exposure to parabens: Pets Are Not Spared

According to American researchers, the exposure of pets—such as dogs and cats—to a wide range of chemicals in their environment is becoming a cause for concern, as is the concomitant increase in non-infectious diseases among these animals. However, little is known about the sources and routes of exposure to these substances in pets. A team of scientists therefore set out to learn more by quantifying the concentrations of parabens and their metabolites in the food and urine of dogs and cats in New York State.    Parabens, due to their antibacterial and antifungal properties, are widely used as preservatives in cosmetics, medications, as well as foods and cleaning products. Humans are far from being the only ones exposed to the potentially harmful effects of these endocrine disruptors. Their widespread use means that, despite the effectiveness of wastewater and waste treatment processes, parabens are present in surface water and the environment. Under these conditions, it is not surprising to find parabens in human body tissues. A previous study, also conducted in the United States, shows that most American consumers have detectable levels of parabens in their urine. Similarly, in another study, these chemicals were also found in marine mammals inhabiting the U.S. coast, such as dolphins and sea otters, as well as in polar bears. Now, a research team has shown that these preservatives also accumulate in the bodies of dogs and cats. To this end, scientists analyzed nearly 60 commercially available pet foods, as well as urine samples collected from about 30 dogs and 30 cats in the Albany, New York, area, to determine the concentrations of parabens. Parabens, particularly methylparaben (MeP), and their metabolites were detected in all of the animal feed and urine samples analyzed. The average concentrations of total parabens in dog food (n = 23) were 1,350 ng/g of food, and 1,550 ng/g in cat food (n = 35). Dry foods contained higher concentrations of parabens and their metabolites than wet foods, and cat food contained higher concentrations than dog food. The average concentrations of total parabens detected in the urine of dogs (n = 30) and cats (n = 30) were 7,230 ng/mL and 1,040 ng/mL, respectively. In both animal feed and urine, the main compounds were MeP for parabens and para-hydroxybenzoic acid (4-HB) for metabolites. Metabolites account for approximately 99% of the total concentrations detected in food (99.1%) and in urine (98.9%). Although the metabolite 4-HB occurs naturally in certain plants, the correlation between methylparaben and 4-HB in the samples demonstrates that they are of chemical origin. Furthermore, the profiles of parabens and their metabolites present in the urine of dogs and cats vary. In addition to diet, other sources of exposure have been identified in dogs, whereas in cats, the majority of exposures are diet-related. Further studies are needed to determine the risks these substances pose to pet health. Previous research has shown, in particular, that parabens and their metabolites can mimic the action of estrogen in animals.