Cited by 254Effects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicalsPharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental ImpactsPesticide Exposure and Toxicity

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 27 of the 27 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Parabens in urine, serum and seminal plasma from healthy Danish men determined by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS)

Frederiksen, Hanne, Jørgensen, Niels, Andersson, Anna-Maria·2011·Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology

DOI 10.1038/jes.2010.6

Open this paper in CoChat — free account

Abstract

Parabens are used as anti-microbial preservatives in a range of consumer products, especially in cosmetics. In vitro and animal studies have shown weak estrogenic and other endocrine disrupting effects of parabens, including reduced testosterone levels in exposed male rats. The knowledge of paraben exposure, distribution and excretion in humans is limited. In this study we determined the concentration of five parabens; methyl-, ethyl-, n-propyl-, n-butyl- and benzylparaben in urine, serum and seminal plasma samples from 60 healthy Danish men. To conduct the study a sensitive and specific method using LC-MS/MS for simultaneous determination of the five parabens was developed for all three different matrices. Highest concentrations of the parabens were found in urine, wherein methyl-, ethyl-, n-propyl- and n-butyl parabens were measurable in 98%, 80%, 98% and 83% of the men, respectively. Benzyl paraben was only measurable in urine from 7% of the men. Methyl- and n-propyl parabens were also measurable in the majority of serum and seminal plasma samples, whereas the other parabens could only be detected in some of the samples. In all the three matrices significant correlations between the parabens were seen. Furthermore, urinary paraben concentrations correlate to the paraben concentrations in both serum and seminal plasma.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1038/jes.2010.6

Cites

27 of 27 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Recomputing p-values needs the paper’s full text.

Claims the paper makes

This paper’s full text isn’t openly available, so its claims and self-check weren’t run. The registry and citation checks still apply.

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

Safety assessment of esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid (parabens)
Soni, M. G., Carabin, I. G., & Burdock, G. A. (2005) · Food and Chemical Toxicology · doi:10.1016/j.fct.2005.01.020 · Cited by 1,012
Concentrations of parabens in human breast tumours
Darbre, P. D., Aljarrah, A., Miller, W. R., Coldham, N. G., Sauer, M. J., & Pope, G. S. (2004) · Journal of Applied Toxicology · doi:10.1002/jat.958 · Cited by 805
Final Amended Report on the Safety Assessment of Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Isopropylparaben, Butylparaben, Isobutylparaben, and Benzylparaben as used in Cosmetic Products
(2008) · International Journal of Toxicology · doi:10.1080/10915810802548359 · Cited by 472
Effects of propyl paraben on the male reproductive system
Oishi, S. (2002) · Food and Chemical Toxicology · doi:10.1016/s0278-6915(02)00204-1 · Cited by 422
Oestrogenic activity of parabens in MCF7 human breast cancer cells
Byford, J. R., Shaw, L. E., Drew, M. G. B., Pope, G. S., Sauer, M. J., & Darbre, P. D. (2002) · The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology · doi:10.1016/s0960-0760(01)00174-1 · Cited by 364
Quantitative Detection of Eight Phthalate Metabolites in Human Urine Using HPLC−APCI-MS/MS
Blount, B. C., Milgram, K. E., Silva, M. J., Malek, N. A., Reidy, J. A., Needham, L. L., & Brock, J. W. (2000) · Analytical Chemistry · doi:10.1021/ac000422r · Cited by 363
East-West gradient in semen quality in the Nordic-Baltic area: a study of men from the general population in Denmark, Norway, Estonia and Finland
Jørgensen, N. (2002) · Human Reproduction · doi:10.1093/humrep/17.8.2199 · Cited by 318
Self-citation
Parabens as Urinary Biomarkers of Exposure in Humans
Ye, X., Bishop, A. M., Reidy, J. A., Needham, L. L., & Calafat, A. M. (2006) · Environmental Health Perspectives · doi:10.1289/ehp.9413 · Cited by 311
Systemic uptake of diethyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, and butyl paraben following whole-body topical application and reproductive and thyroid hormone levels in humans
Janjua, N. R., Mortensen, G. K., Andersson, A.-M., Kongshoj, B., Niels E. Skakkebæk, A., & Wulf, H. C. (2007) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/es0628755 · Cited by 302
Self-citation
ER-dependent estrogenic activity of parabens assessed by proliferation of human breast cancer MCF-7 cells and expression of ERα and PR
Okubo, T., Yokoyama, Y., Kano, K., & Kano, I. (2001) · Food and Chemical Toxicology · doi:10.1016/s0278-6915(01)00073-4 · Cited by 287

Flagged first, then by citations

Show all 27 references

Sorted by citations

Items 201–253 of 253

Impact of Phthalates and Parabens on the Neurobehavioral and Reproductive Function: A Review
Yesumanipreethi, S., Magadalenal, N. N., & Inbaraj, R. (2021) · Proceedings of the Zoological Society · doi:10.1007/s12595-021-00408-z · Cited by 7
Human Exposure to Chemicals in Personal Care Products and Health Implications
Asimakopoulos, A. G., Pasias, I. N., Kannan, K., & Τhomaidis, Ν. S. (2014) · The handbook of environmental chemistry · doi:10.1007/698_2014_301 · Cited by 9
Propylparaben negatively impacts IN VITRO preimplantation mouse embryo development
Lai, N. Z. E., Bashir, S. T., Ziv‐Gal, A., Sivagaru, M., & Nowak, R. A. (2025) · Reproductive Toxicology · doi:10.1016/j.reprotox.2025.108876 · Cited by 8
Human urine contamination with environmental pollutants: simultaneous determination using UPLC-MS/MS
Beltifa, A., Machreki, M., Ghorbel, A., Belaïd, A., Smaoui, E., Akrout, F. M., Bella, G. D., Khdary, N. H., Reyns, T., Mansour, H. B., et al. (2019) · Journal of Water and Health · doi:10.2166/wh.2019.264 · Cited by 8
Hybrid Organosilica Coatings for Solid Phase Microextraction: Highly Efficient Adsorbents for Determination of Trace Parabens
Шнайдер, Б. А., Levchyk, V. M., Zui, M. F., & Kobylinska, N. (2019) · Protection of Metals and Physical Chemistry of Surfaces · doi:10.1134/s2070205119040221 · Cited by 8
Development and validation of a new method for determination of methylparaben in Iran market infant formulae by HPLC
Khansari, N., Adib, N., Alikhani, A., Babaee, T., & Khosrokhavar, R. (2021) · Journal of Environmental Health Science and Engineering · doi:10.1007/s40201-021-00628-7 · Cited by 7
Regulatory Considerations for Dermal Application of Endocrine Disrupters in Personal Care Products
Darbre, P. D., & Harvey, P. W. (2021) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-821985-0.00022-0 · Cited by 7
Serum parabens and its correlations with immunologic and cellular markers in Southern Taiwan industrialized city systemic lupus erythematosus patients
Huang, K.-S., Chen, C., Sun, C., & Su, Y. (2022) · Journal of the Chinese Medical Association · doi:10.1097/jcma.0000000000000802 · Cited by 7
A Proposed Study on the Transplacental Transport of Parabens in the Human Placental Perfusion Model
Mathiesen, L., Zuri, G., Andersen, M. H. G., & Knudsen, L. E. (2013) · Alternatives to Laboratory Animals · doi:10.1177/026119291304100610 · Cited by 7
Integration of magnetic nanoparticles with chitosan in ultrasound-assisted dispersive micro-solid phase extraction conducted with deep eutectic supramolecular solvent for preconcentration of paraben preservatives in biological and liquid pharmaceutical samples prior to HPLC-UV
Ezoddin, M., Ghane, M., Mohadesi, A., Abdi, K., Adlnasab, L., & Karimi, M. A. (2025) · Microchemical Journal · doi:10.1016/j.microc.2025.115000 · Cited by 6
Exposition des nouveau-nés aux parabènes via les médicaments administrés durant leur hospitalisation
Binson, G., Cariot, A., Venisse, N., Maïo, M. D., Rabouan, S., Beuzit, K., & Dupuis, A. (2020) · Annales Pharmaceutiques Françaises · doi:10.1016/j.pharma.2020.01.005 · Cited by 6
Quantitation of perfluoroalkyl acids, parabens and cotinine from single low volume serum sample by validated analytical method
Koponen, J. M., & Kiviranta, H. (2019) · International Journal of Environmental & Analytical Chemistry · doi:10.1080/03067319.2019.1618850 · Cited by 5
Investigation of the Profile and Kinetics of Degradation of Fenticonazole Nitrate using Stability-indicating HPLC Assay in Presence of Methyl and Propyl Parabens: Application to Preformulation Studies
Noaman, E., Al‐Ghobashy, M. A., & LOTFY, H. M. (2016) · Analytical Chemistry Letters · doi:10.1080/22297928.2016.1278179 · Cited by 5
Cytology of polychrome-stained equine synovial fluid smears. Comparison with clinical findings, histologic specimens, Wright-Giemsa-stained smears and outcome.
Freeman, K. P., Todhunter, R. J., Lust, G., Erb, H. N., Rakestraw, P. C., Slusher, S. H., & Carroll, B. (1991) · PubMed · Cited by 5
Optimal matrix identification of parabens, triclosan and triclocarban for biomonitoring: Comparative analysis in urine, whole blood, serum, and plasma
Chen, W., Lin, Y., Lin, K., Wu, X., Shan, C., Fu, B., Chen, Y., Bian, J., Li, X., Chen, X., et al. (2025) · Journal of Hazardous Materials · doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.140381 · Cited by 4
Determination of Parabens and Their Metabolites in Seminal Plasma from Chinese Men by Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS)
Dai, J., Zhang, L., Xu, J., Peng, F., Wu, Z., Fu, L., Guo, Y., Chang, B., Lü, W., & Ding, C. (2023) · Toxics · doi:10.3390/toxics11020131 · Cited by 4
Disruption of gonadotropin hormone biosynthesis by parabens: A potential development and reproduction-associated adverse outcome pathway
Wang, L., Liu, X., Zhao, M., Li, F., & Liu, J. (2024) · Environmental Pollution · doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123716 · Cited by 4
Stoffmonographie für Parabene – Referenzwerte für Parabene im Urin von Erwachsenen
Umweltbundesamtes, B. D. (2014) · Bundesgesundheitsblatt - Gesundheitsforschung - Gesundheitsschutz · doi:10.1007/s00103-014-2055-8 · Cited by 4
Regulatory Considerations for Dermal Application of Endocrine Disrupters in Personal Care Products
Darbre, P. D., & Harvey, P. W. (2015) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-801139-3.00019-3 · Cited by 4
Next generation risk assessment of human exposure to estrogens using safe comparator compound values based on in vitro bioactivity assays
van Tongeren, T. C. A., Wang, S., Carmichael, P. L., Rietjens, I. M. C. M., & Li, H. (2023) · Archives of Toxicology · doi:10.1007/s00204-023-03480-w · Cited by 4
Toxicity testing of cosmetic ingredients using gametophyte beads of the brown alga Undaria pinnatifida (Laminariales, Phaeophyta)
Lee, H., Lee, J., Brown, M. T., Park, J., Vieira, C., & Han, T. (2019) · Journal of Applied Phycology · doi:10.1007/s10811-018-1669-x · Cited by 4
Insights into the Adverse Effects of Parabens on Human Health: Based on Associations with Target Lipid Molecules
Liu, M., Chen, Q., Tian, T., & Ding, Z. (2024) · Exposure and Health · doi:10.1007/s12403-024-00669-x · Cited by 3
Preservatives, colorants and UV filters in cosmetic products: Safety aspects
Lukić, M. Ž. (2018) · Arhiv za farmaciju · doi:10.5937/arhfarm1805934l · Cited by 3
Personal care products and cosmetics
Zhou, C., Chiang, C., Brehm, E., Warner, G. R., & Flaws, J. A. (2022) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-323-89773-0.00044-8 · Cited by 3
Simultaneous estimation of methyl paraben, propyl paraben, and Bisphenol A in the plasma of Indian pregnant women using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry
Pradhan, R., Mishra, D., Dubey, S. K., Khadgawat, R., Kachhawa, G., Gupta, T., & Taliyan, R. (2023) · Separation Science Plus · doi:10.1002/sscp.202200163 · Cited by 3
Inflammatory state and autism-like behavioral phenotype of offspring induced by maternal exposure to low-dose chemical mixtures during pregnancy in mice
Song, L., Wen, W., Liu, J., Jin, X., & Yang, J. (2021) · Journal of Zhejiang University (Medical Sciences) · doi:10.3724/zdxbyxb-2021-0182 · Cited by 3
Parabens as Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals and Their Association with Metabolic Disorders
Haider, K., Rehman, K., Shabbir, A., & Akash, M. S. H. (2020) · Emerging contaminants and associated treatment technologies · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-45923-9_22 · Cited by 2
Personal Care Products and Cosmetics
Zhou, C., Chiang, C., Brehm, E., & Flaws, J. A. (2017) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-804239-7.00045-7 · Cited by 2
Exploring Novel Environmental Link to Obesity: Role of Parabens in Adipogenesis in vitro and in vivo
Hu, P. (2015) · Cited by 2
Endocrine disruption
Darbre, P. D. (2023) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-323-99684-6.00011-2 · Cited by 1
The stray cat exposure to parabens in highly urbanized environment
Gonkowski, S., Tzatzarakis, M. N., Kadyralieva, N., Vakonaki, E., Lamprakis, T., Şen, İ., Ramazan, F. I., Zhunushova, A., & Makowska, K. (2026) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-026-40707-z · Cited by 1
Simultaneous determination of contaminants of seven classes in human plasma by solvent induced phase transition extraction and Ultraperformance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry: Assessment of multiple experimental influencing factors
Zhang, Z., Zhang, X., Chen, G., Shen, Y., Zeng, R., Zhu, J., Xu, Y., Guo, H., Wu, T., & Jing, T. (2026) · Microchemical Journal · doi:10.1016/j.microc.2026.118614 · Cited by 1
Determination of Serum Methylparaben Concentrations of Bangladeshi Breast Cancer Patients by RP-HPLC
Afrin, S., Simol, H. A., Sultana, G. N. N., Islam, M. S., Haque, P., Khan, M. N., & Rahman, M. M. (2017) · Analytical Chemistry Letters · doi:10.1080/22297928.2017.1400400 · Cited by 1
Determination of phthalates and bisphenol A and their metabolites in different types of materials
Vrbík, K., Vavrouš, A., Pavloušková, J., Malý, M., Svacina, S., Piecha, R., Lacinová, Z., Müllerová, D., Matějková, D., & Mráz, M. (2016) · Klinická biochemie a metabolismus · doi:10.61568/kbm.2016.025 · Cited by 1
Simultaneous identification of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in semen using a miniaturized salt-assisted liquid-liquid extraction procedure followed by LC-MS/MS analysis
Domínguez-Liste, A., Espín-Moreno, L., Schweiss, M. O., Ramírez, L. P., Mustieles, V., Rodríguez‐Carrillo, A., Vela-Soria, F., & Ballesteros, O. (2025) · Microchemical Journal · doi:10.1016/j.microc.2025.115243 · Cited by 1
New EU criteria for endocrine disrupters
(2018) · TemaNord · doi:10.6027/tn2018-537 · Cited by 1
Análise do propilparabeno e do butilparabeno em amostras de água da Bacia do Rio Pardo e estudos da sua degradação por fotólise e fotoeletrocatálise e avaliação da toxicidade e atividade estrogênica
Gomes, F. E. R. (2016) · doi:10.11606/t.75.2016.tde-20042016-160953 · Cited by 1
Methylparabens and Cosmetics: Toxicological Risk?Preprint
Ciechanowski, P. (2013) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.2314621 · Cited by 1
Desenvolvimento de métodos cromatográficos para análises de antimicrobianos em amostras complexas
Melo, L. D. P. (2012) · doi:10.11606/t.59.2012.tde-17072012-142923
Thyroid Endocrine Disruption of Propylparaben Assessed Using an Optimized Individual Xenopus tropicalis Metamorphosing Tadpole Exposure System
Pohl, J. (2015) · KTH Publication Database DiVA (KTH Royal Institute of Technology)
Desenvolvimento de um método para a determinação simultânea de parabenos, bisfenóis e benzofenonas em urina por MEPS-LC-MS/MS
Silveira, R. S. (2018) · doi:10.11606/d.60.2018.tde-23052018-111707
Supplemental Material for NTP Research Report on Biological Activity of Bisphenol A (BPA) Structural Analogues and Functional Alternatives. NTP RR 4
Pelch, K., Wignall, J., Goldstone, A. E., Pk, R., Blain, R., Shapiro, A., Holmgren, S., Jh, H., Svoboda, D. L., Auerbach, S., et al. (2013) · Chemical Effects in Biological Systems (CEBS) · doi:10.22427/ntp-data-4
Perfluorooctane sulfonate and bisphenol a strongly interact with bacterial antigens and adversely modulate host immunity
Wang, M. (2021) · DR-NTU (Nanyang Technological University) · doi:10.32657/10356/155796
Los parabenos y sus efectos en la reproducción femenina
Fuentes, J. M. Q. (2021) · doi:10.24275/uami.cc08hf84j
Human exposure and uptake into human tissues
Darbre, P. D. (2023) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-323-99684-6.00014-8
Metabolic effects of paraben exposure in geriatric serum: non-targeted metabolomics profiling and association analysis of perturbed metabolic pathways
Sun, M., Dang, Z., & Li, Y. (2025) · Environment International · doi:10.1016/j.envint.2025.109902
パラベン類の水環境における動態およびヒトの暴露を把握する分析方法に関する研究
原田祥行 (n.d.) · Institutional Repositories DataBase (IRDB)
Outils d'évaluation d'une intervention d'éducation pour la santé environnementale périnatale
Rouillon, S. (2018) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/13b7f02dzefc0z4823zbb48z0a74191ff4be
Cytotoxic and Genotoxic Assessment of Methylparaben on Vero Cell Line
Munir, F., Ali, M. M., Javed, M., Aslam, H. B., & Ullah, A. (2026) · Biology Bulletin · doi:10.1134/s1062359025601995
Paraben concentrations in cat hair samples
Gonkowski, S., Tzatzarakis, M. N., Vakonaki, E., Lamprakis, T., & Makowska, K. (2026) · Journal of Veterinary Research · doi:10.2478/jvetres-2026-0036
Methylparaben and ethylparaben exposure through breast milk in the first six months of lactation: A Taiwanese cohort study with estimated daily intake for breastfed infants
Chang, T., Tsai, C., Lin, T.-I., Liu, H.-K., Suen, J., Yang, S., Wu, C.-Y., Wu, P.-L., & Yang, Y. (2026) · Food and Chemical Toxicology · doi:10.1016/j.fct.2026.116354
Marginal Changes in Semen Quality Over Three Decades (1996‒2022) Among 8320 Men in the Danish Young Men Study (DYMS): Cohort Profile and Trends
Priskorn, L., Baslund‐Storch, C., Hansen, L. S., Beck, A. L., Hansen, A. H., Holmboe, S. A., Nordkap, L., Bang, A. K., Lindahl‐Jacobsen, R., Dalgård, C., et al. (2026) · Andrology · doi:10.1111/andr.70383
Self-citation
Simultaneous semen and urine biomonitoring of neonicotinoids and associations with semen quality in men
Lei, L.-J., Zhang, L., Yang, Q.-S., Zhou, Z., Liu, J.-J., Dong, F.-D., Xue, Z.-W., Wu, L.-Y., Cheng, Z.-P., Wang, P., et al. (2026) · Frontiers in Endocrinology · doi:10.3389/fendo.2026.1871388

Authors: Frederiksen, H., Jørgensen, N., & Andersson, A.-M.
Affiliations: Copenhagen University Hospital (DK)
Corresponding author: Frederiksen, Hanne
ORCID: Frederiksen, Hanne
Jørgensen, Niels
Andersson, Anna-Maria
Venue: Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published: 2010-03-10
Volume: 21
Issue: 3
Pages: 262-271
ISSN: 1559-0631 (ISSN-L)
1559-064X
DOI: 10.1038/jes.2010.6
OpenAlex: W2022438662
Cited by: 254
References: 27
Citations by year: 2026: 7 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 24 · 2021: 26 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 23 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 20 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 17 · 2012: 11
FWCI: 7.09
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
www.springer.com/tdm (vor)
Locations: Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (submittedVersion)
Funders: Velux Fonden
Topics: Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Effects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicals
Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Toxicology › Pesticide Exposure and Toxicity
Keywords: parabens, methylparaben, ethylparaben, benzylparaben, human exposure, urinary biomonitoring, serum, seminal plasma, endocrine disruptors, cosmetics, preservatives, healthy men
MeSH terms: Adolescent, Adult, Chromatography, Liquid, Humans, Hydrolysis, Male, Parabens, Quality Control, Reference Standards, Reference Values, Semen, Reproducibility of Results, Solid Phase Extraction, Tandem Mass Spectrometry, Young Adult, Limit of Detection

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review

Parabens in urine, serum and seminal plasma from healthy Danish men determined by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS)

Abstract

Overview

Integrity signals

Verification

Claims the paper makes

Claims other papers make about this one

Citations

Cites

Cited by

Related

Metadata

Record

About these checks