Serum Testosterone Concentrations and Urinary Bisphenol A, Benzophenone-3, Triclosan, and Paraben Levels in Male and Female Children and Adolescents: NHANES 2011-2012.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional survey analysis
PubMed 27383665 · doi:10.1289/EHP150
What was done
Researchers evaluated the cross-sectional association between environmental chemical exposures and serum total testosterone in children (ages 6–11 years) and adolescents (ages 12–19 years) using data from the 2011–2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Multivariable linear regression was performed to model natural log-transformed serum total testosterone against quartiles of urinary bisphenol A (BPA), benzophenone-3 (BP-3), triclosan (TCS), and total parabens, stratified by sex and age group.
What was found
The abstract reports directional findings without specific numerical effect sizes, confidence intervals, or sample sizes: - Higher urinary BPA and BP-3 concentrations were significantly associated with lower serum total testosterone in male adolescents. - Higher urinary BPA was significantly associated with higher serum total testosterone in female adolescents. - Urinary BP-3 was not significantly associated with total testosterone in female adolescents or younger children. - Urinary triclosan and total parabens were not consistently associated with total testosterone in children or adolescents of either sex.
Why it matters
This study provides population-level evidence linking common endocrine-disrupting environmental chemicals—specifically BPA and the sunscreen agent BP-3—to sex-divergent alterations in adolescent testosterone levels.
Limits
The study is cross-sectional, precluding causal inference and leaving open the possibility of reverse causation or confounding. Total sample size and subgroup counts are not reported in the abstract. Exposure was assessed from spot urine samples for rapidly metabolized chemicals, which may misclassify chronic exposure. Free or bioavailable testosterone was not evaluated.