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Bisphenols, nonylphenols, and nonylphenol metabolites in paired dust and urine across China: insights into systemic oxidative stress

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Phenolic compounds have garnered increasing attention owing to their widespread applications and potential risks to human health. However, the contribution of external exposure of phenolic compounds to their total exposure and the association of these compounds with oxidative stress remain insufficiently understood. In this study, 18 bisphenols (BPs), 2 nonylphenols (NPs), and 2 NP metabolites (mNPs) were quantified in paired indoor dust and urine samples (n = 334), along with 7 urinary oxidative stress biomarkers (OSBs), collected across 31 provinces in China. The median concentrations of ∑ 18 BPs, ∑ 2 NPs, and ∑ 2 mNPs in dust were 1070, 41.9, and 20.6 ng/g, respectively. In urine, the specific gravity–adjusted median concentrations of ∑ 9 BPs, 4-nonylphenol, and ∑ 2 mNPs were 6.4, 1.2, and 0.9 ng/mL, respectively. Spearman correlation analysis revealed that exposures to both BP and NP were significantly and positively correlated with OSBs. Multivariate linear regression further demonstrated that the combined effects of BPs and hydroxy-NP (OH-NP) were positively associated with DNA and RNA oxidative damage after excluding the effects of gender, age, and smoking status. Notably, bisphenol S and OH-NP were the primary contributors for assessing overall oxidative damage induced by BP and NP exposure, respectively. Indoor dust can only indicate NP exposure but was not the primary exposure route for either BPs or NPs. This study offers valuable insights into the exposure patterns of BPs and NPs in the Chinese population and elucidates their potential to induce oxidative stress.

Source: Environment International

DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2026.110242