Association Between Urinary Paraben Concentrations and Early Renal Impairment in Young Adults in Taiwan

Kidney disease poses a severe global health burden, with Taiwan facing particularly high rates of end-stage renal disease. Notably, about 10% of kidney disease cases in Taiwan have unknown causes, underscoring the need to investiage environmental factors. Parabens (PBs), common preservatives in personal care products, may contribute significantly to kidney disease in Taiwan. Despite the importance of early detection of renal impairment, few studies have investigated the association between PBs exposure and kidney health. This study aims to examine the relationship between PBs oncentrations and early renal impairment biomarkers in young Taiwanese adults. A total of 310 participants aged 20–29 from northern Taiwan were recruited to measure urinary concentrations of methyl-paraben (MetPB), ethyl-paraben (EthPB), propyl-paraben (PropPB), and butyl-paraben (ButPB) using ultraperformance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Additionally, early renal impairment biomarkers, including urinary microalbumin (MA), β2-microglobulin (B2MG), and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), were measured. The median concentrations of urinary MetPB, EthPB, PropPB, and ButPB were 18.51, 1.01, 1.50, and 0.28 ng/mL, respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed a significant positive association between urinary EthPB concentration and urinary MA concentration (β = 0.012, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.003–0.020). Additionally, individuals with urinary EthPB levels in the highest quartile (> 1.70 ng/mL) had a significantly increased risk of having high urinary MA levels (≥ 0.59 mg/dL), with an adjusted odds ratio of 2.669 (95% CI: 1.004–7.091) compared to those in the lowest quartile. This study found that exposure to PBs, especially EthPB, was associated with increased urinary MA levels, indicating potential kidney damage. Given the widespread use of PBs in food and cosmetics in Taiwan, these findings highlight the urgent need for effective strategies and regulations to mitigate potential risks.