Human biomonitoring and exposure risk assessment to phthalates, parabens, benzophenone-3, bisphenols and triclosan in the adult population of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (D.R.C): a cross-sectional study

Background : Phthalates, parabens, benzophenone-3, bisphenols and triclosan are among the contaminants suspected of being involved in several hormone-related pathologies. In developing countries, weak regulations and lack of a precise monitoring plan lead to exposures that could be much worse than in developed countries. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the level of exposure of the adult population of Kinshasa (D.R.C) to these compounds and to assess the health risk induced by these pollutants. Methods : Concentrations of four parabens, nine phthalate metabolites, two non-phthalate plasticizers, benzophenone-3, three bisphenols and triclosan were assessed in the urine of 145 volunteers recruited in Kinshasa. Measurements were performed using a liquid or a gas chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometer. Results : Detected in more than 95% of the samples with median concentrations in bracket, methylparaben (MeP) (62.6 µg/L), mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP) (78.1 µg/L) and bisphenol-A (BPA) (1.54 µg/L) were the most abundant compounds for parabens, phthalates metabolites and bisphenols, respectively. Globally, the current exposure seemed to be much higher for some phthalates and parabens compared to Western countries. For some phthalates, a non-neglectable part of the population studied exceeded human biomonitoring guidance values proposed by the HBM4EU consortium, meaning that they are expected to be more susceptible to reproductive disorders due to environmental exposure. Conclusion : The exposure of the population of Kinshasa to these pollutants merits consideration, as it constitutes a genuine public health concern. To enhance the protection of the population and its ecosystem, regulatory measures must be implemented and large-scale studies conducted.