Bisphenol compounds in female underwear manufactured in China and their potential risks to women's health

Abstract

Currently, there is limited information regarding the presence of chemicals in female underwear and the potential risks involved. This study investigated the levels of ten bisphenols in brassieres and briefs made in China, revealing total concentrations ranging from 13.9 to 52,968 ng/g. Bisphenol S (BPS), bisphenol F (BPF), and bisphenol A (BPA) made up a median of 53.2%, 24.4%, and 22.2% of the total concentrations, respectively. The concentrations of bisphenols were significantly higher in darker samples compared to most other colors. When compared to previous reports on other textiles, this study found similar levels of BPA but higher concentrations of BPF and BPS. Furthermore, the median migration rates of BPF (39.1%) and BPS (25.2%) in artificial sweat were significantly greater than that of BPA (6.58%), leading to higher exposure levels for BPF and BPS. The estimated non-carcinogenic risks associated with the three primary bisphenols in the underwear were deemed acceptable. However, the estimated exposure to BPS and BPF from this source represented about 2.53%–12.0% and 11.8%–38.2% of total human exposure, respectively, suggesting that the contamination of these chemicals in underwear is a concern that should not be overlooked.