TABLE III.
Summary statistics for urinary paraben biomarker concentrations in children aged 6 to 19 years from the US general population (NHANES 2005–2014; in nanograms per milliliter)*
| No. | Percent detected | GM | Median (p25-p75) | p95 | Max | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BP | |||||||
| All children | 4,023 | 36.1 | — | <LOD (<LOD-0.3) | 9.2 | 1,240 | |
| Male subjects | 2,068 | 24 | — | <LOD (<LOD-0.1) | 1.7 | 1,240 | <.001† |
| Female subjects | 1,955 | 49.1 | 0.4 | <LOD (<LOD-0.7) | 17.6 | 353 | |
| Children with asthma | 450 | 33.5 | — | <LOD (<LOD-0.3) | 19.6 | 1,240 | .35‡ |
| Male subjects with asthma | 248 | 24.4 | — | <LOD (<LOD-<LOD) | 1.9 | 1,240 | .004§ |
| Female subjects with asthma | 202 | 43.2 | 0.4 | <LOD (<LOD-0.5) | 24.5 | 90 | |
| Children with no asthma | 3,573 | 36.5 | — | <LOD (<LOD-0.3) | 8.3 | 493 | |
| Male subjects with no asthma | 1,820 | 24 | — | <LOD (<LOD-0.1) | 1.7 | 493 | <.001∥ |
| Female subjects with no asthma | 1,753 | 49.8 | 1.9 | <LOD (<LOD-0.8) | 14.5 | 353 | |
| EP | |||||||
| All children | 4,023 | 34.6 | — | <LOD (<LOD-1.9) | 34.5 | 1,981 | |
| Male subjects | 2,068 | 26.3 | — | <LOD (<LOD-1.0) | 10.7 | 1,981 | <.001† |
| Female subjects | 1,955 | 43.4 | 1.1 | <LOD (<LOD-3.2) | 60.8 | 1,760 | |
| Children with asthma | 450 | 38.3 | — | <LOD (<LOD-2.2) | 60.3 | 1,670 | .16‡ |
| Male subjects with asthma | 248 | 30 | — | <LOD (<LOD-1.3) | 34.5 | 1,110 | .005§ |
| Female subjects with asthma | 202 | 47.3 | 2.0 | <LOD (<LOD-3.4) | 63.3 | 1,670 | |
| Children with no asthma | 3,573 | 34.1 | — | <LOD (<LOD-1.8) | 31.3 | 1,981 | |
| Male subjects with no asthma | 1,820 | 25.9 | — | <LOD (<LOD-1.0) | 10.4 | 1,981 | <.001∥ |
| Female subjects with no asthma | 1,753 | 42.9 | 1.9 | <LOD (<LOD-3.2) | 60.8 | 1,760 | |
| MP | |||||||
| All children | 4,023 | 98.5 | 38.0 | 31.4 (10.3–136.0) | 868 | 149,000 | |
| Male subjects | 2,068 | 98.2 | 25.2 | 18.9 (7.8–66.5) | 654 | 149,000 | <.001¶ |
| Female subjects | 1,955 | 98.7 | 58.9 | 56.2 (17.0–209.0) | 1,000 | 132,000 | |
| Children with asthma | 450 | 99.5 | 49.4 | 41.2 (12.1–174.0) | 1,050 | 149,000 | .02# |
| Male subjects with asthma | 248 | 100 | 39.2 | 30.5 (9.2–107.0) | 1,170 | 149,000 | .07# |
| Female subjects with asthma | 202 | 99 | 63.2 | 64.0 (16.7–261.0) | 1,020 | 132,000 | |
| Children with no asthma | 3,573 | 93.3 | 36.8 | 30.1 (10.2–129.0) | 847 | 135,000 | |
| Male subjects with no asthma | 1,820 | 98.1 | 23.9 | 18.3 (7.7–63.8) | 621 | 135,000 | <.001¶ |
| Female subjects with no asthma | 1,753 | 100 | 58.4 | 55.3 (17.0–201.0) | 995 | 125,000 | |
| PP | |||||||
| All children | 4,023 | 95.2 | 4.7 | 3.7 (0.9–20.5) | 208 | 4,150 | |
| Male subjects | 2,068 | 93.3 | 2.6 | 1.9 (0.7–7.9) | 120 | 3,320 | <.001¶ |
| Female subjects | 1,955 | 97.2 | 8.7 | 8.3 (1.8–43.4) | 279 | 4,150 | |
| Children with asthma | 450 | 97.2 | 6.7 | 4.9 (1.2–34.2) | 283 | 2,650 | .008# |
| Male subjects with asthma | 248 | 95.9 | 3.9 | 2.5 (1.0–12.0) | 210 | 2,020 | <.001¶ |
| Female subjects with asthma | 202 | 98.5 | 11.7 | 11.6 (1.9–68.3) | 381 | 2,650 | |
| Children with no asthma | 3,573 | 94.9 | 4.5 | 3.5 (0.9–18.6) | 200 | 4,150 | |
| Male subjects with no asthma | 1,820 | 93 | 2.5 | 1.8 (0.6–7.6) | 100 | 3,320 | <.001¶ |
| Female subjects with no asthma | 1,753 | 97 | 8.4 | 8.0 (1.8–40.1) | 276 | 4,150 | |
GM, Geometric mean; <LOD, summary statistic value of less than the detection limit for the respective paraben; Max, maximum concentration observed.
LODs were 0.2 ng/mL (BP and PP) and 1.0 ng/mL (EP and MP). In accordance with US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, a geometric mean is only reported when the DF is greater than 40% for the specified subgroup, and all statistics reported have been weighted to account for the complex NHANES survey design.
P value from χ2 test for differences in DF based on sex among all 4023 children.
P value from χ2 test for differences in DF based on current asthma status among all 4023 children.
P value from χ2 test for differences in DF based on sex among the 450 children with current asthma.
P value from χ2 test for differences in DF based on sex among the 3573 children without current asthma.
P values reported are from t tests examining whether paraben biomarker concentrations differed by sex among the specified subgroups (ie, differences in concentrations between boys and girls among those with asthma and differences in concentrations between boys and girls among those without asthma).
P values reported from t tests examining whether paraben biomarker concentrations among children without a current asthma diagnosis differed from those observed among children with a current asthma diagnosis.