Parabens, triclosan, and triclocarban in aquatic products from Shenzhen, China and the relative health risk

The consumption of contaminated aquatic products may expose humans to residues of parabens, triclosan (TCS), and triclocarban (TCC). Despite its significance, empirical research on this issue remains limited. In this study, we employed high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) to analyze extracts from 245 aquatic product samples collected randomly from local markets in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province. Our analysis detected at least one of the five parabens—methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate (MeP), ethyl 4-hydroxybenzoate (EtP), propyl 4-hydroxybenzoate (PrP), butyl 4-hydroxybenzoate (BuP), and benzyl 4-hydroxybenzoate (BeP)—in 88 samples (35.9%). TCS and TCC were found in 50.6% and 51.4% of the samples, respectively, with MeP being the most frequently detected paraben. Significant negative correlations were observed between TCS and MeP (r = −0.129, p < 0.05) and between TCC and MeP (r = −0.176, p < 0.05), indicating potential different sources for these contaminants. Residue levels varied among different types of aquatic products, with TCS and TCC concentrations being higher in fish compared to crustaceans and bivalves. The health risk associated with consuming these contaminants was found to be minimal for both males and females. This study provides valuable insights into the dietary risks associated with exposure to parabens, TCS, and TCC.