Results of the Austrian Children's Biomonitoring Survey 2020 part A: Per- and polyfluorinated alkylated substances, bisphenols, parabens and other xenobiotics

In 85 Austrian school children aged 6–10 years, two multi-analyte LC-MS/MS methods were used to study the concentrations of 33 chemical substances in urine, including per- and polyfluorinated alkylated substances (PFAS), bisphenols, parabens, benzophenones, triclosan, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites, and cotinine. Each of the children was exposed to 14–21 substances simultaneously. Correlations were found between compounds of the same and of divergent substance groups supporting the strong need to consider multiple exposures and mixture effects. Eight compounds, including perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFOA), methyl paraben (n-MeP), ethyl paraben (n-EtP), propyl paraben (n-PrP), benzophenone-1 (BP-1), 2-naphthol, and 3-hydroxyphenanthrene were detected in all urine samples. In the PFAS group the medians of detectable substances ranged between <0.0005 μg/l for perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and 0.004 μg/l for PFHxA. For other environmental contaminants investigated, a maximum urinary level of 893 μg/l was identified for n-MeP. The highest median value was 2.5 μg/l for 2-naphthol. Daily intakes were calculated for bisphenol A (BPA), triclosan (TCS), and four parabens. These values did not exceed the tolerable or acceptable daily intakes currently in force. Based on a recently proposed TDI for BPA, daily intakes of all children exceeded this value. A cumulative risk assessment was conducted for four parabens not showing exceedances of acceptable exposures. The results demonstrate simultaneous exposure to several different chemicals, with the majority showing impact on the endocrine system being of particular concern with respect to mixture effects. Further assessments with a stronger focus on mixtures are warranted. The results also highlight the need of policy actions as foreseen in the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability.