Paraben concentrations in cat hair samples

Sławomir Gonkowski; Manolis Tzatzarakis; Elena Vakonaki; Thomas Lamprakis; Krystyna Makowska

doi:10.2478/jvetres-2026-0036

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Paraben concentrations in cat hair samples

Journal of Veterinary Research

Volume 70 (2026): Issue 2 (June 2026)

By: Sławomir Gonkowski , Manolis Tzatzarakis , Elena Vakonaki , Thomas Lamprakis and Krystyna Makowska

Open Access

|Jun 2026

Figures & Tables

Multiple-reaction monitoring chromatogram of a spiked companion-cat hair sample (at 50 pg/mg) (A) and a cat hair sample positive for methylparaben (MeP) (420.1 pg/mg), ethylparaben (EtP) (60.8 pg/mg), propylparaben (PrP) (71.5 pg/mg) and butylparaben (BuP) (19.3 pg/mg) (B). IS – internal standard

Mean concentration levels (± SD) of (A) methylparaben (MeP); (B) ethylparaben (EtP); (C) propylparaben (PrP) and (D) butylparaben (BuP) in male (M) and female (F) companion-cat hair samples. Statistically significant differences between the sexes were not observed (P-value > 0.05)

Mean concentration levels (± SD) of (A) methylparaben (MeP); (B) ethylparaben (EtP); (C) propylparaben (PrP); and (D) butylparaben (BuP) in hair samples of indoor (M) and outdoor (O) companion cats. * – statistically significant differences (P-value ≤0.05)

Mean concentration levels (± SD) of (A) methylparaben; (B) ethylparaben; (C) propylparaben; and (D) butylparaben in companion-cat hair samples in (1) underweight animals (body condition score (BCS) 1–4), (2) normal-weight animals (BCS 5) and obese animals (BCS 6–9). Statistically significant differences were not observed (P-value > 0.05)

Mean concentration levels (± SD) of (A) methylparaben – MeP; (B) ethylparaben – EtP; (C) propylparaben – PrP; and (D) butylparaben – BuP in companion-cat hair samples from young (1), adult (2) and senior (3) animals. Statistically significant differences were not observed (P-value > 0.05)

Concentration levels of parabens (pg/mg) in particular animals included into the study

Animal No.	MeP	EtP	PrP	BuP
cat 01	441.2	89.5	45.9	35.7
cat 02	360.4	25.6	17.7	11.5
cat 03	1276.7	91.0	257.0	64.3
cat 04	437.9	78.0	49.0	15.2
cat 05	179.6	48.4	21.2	9.3
cat 06	7094.7	6458.2	1793.0	27.7
cat 07	609.0	63.6	102.8	19.7
cat 08	677.2	775.2	211.3	49.1
cat 09	377.3	80.0	19.8	11.4
cat 10	208.3	20.1	68.5	12.5
cat 11	406.1	145.6	18.7	<LOQ
cat 12	357.7	77.2	70.9	27.8
cat 13	163.7	12.4	15.0	<LOQ
cat 14	420.1	60.8	71.5	19.3
cat 15	217.5	25.4	27.7	9.6
cat 16	592.2	206.0	110.0	54.0
cat 17	191.0	12.2	18.1	14.4
cat 18	723.5	115.4	71.0	62.7
cat 19	1488.1	128.6	74.0	95.0
cat 20	486.8	10.8	18.7	<LOQ
cat 21	248.0	23.4	24.1	8.9
cat 22	110.4	11.6	11.8	<LOQ
cat 23	86.3	24.6	8.6	<LOQ
cat 24	848.8	23.9	114.0	<LOQ
cat 25	489.2	224.3	96.2	276.4
cat 26	31.8	<LOQ	7.9	<LOD
cat 27	620.1	62.6	80.3	42.3
cat 28	245.0	32.2	166.7	16.7
cat 29	139.8	103.5	12.6	12.7
cat 30	147.0	<LOQ	34.9	<LOQ
cat 31	28.7	<LOQ	8.6	<LOQ
cat 32	228.7	48.2	41.1	31.4
cat 33	200.6	<LOQ	13.0	<LOQ
cat 34	433.1	72.2	84.9	15.7
cat 35	876.4	101.8	73.4	61.2
cat 36	1742.2	421.3	130.9	113.8
cat 37	845.6	175.3	259.9	16.2
cat 38	1399.9	158.5	233.1	12.7
cat 39	1078.5	45.2	196.1	24.4
cat 40	3223.2	292.8	120.6	276.5
cat 41	49.8	<LOQ	28.6	<LOD
cat 42	34.3	<LOQ	11.4	<LOD
cat 43	107.2	17.9	20.7	<LOQ
cat 44	289.6	133.8	35.9	74.9
cat 45	317.1	193.1	55.6	38.4
cat 46	329.8	126.7	71.6	11.4
cat 47	223.1	21.9	15.9	<LOQ
cat 48	115.5	13.1	11.5	<LOD
cat 49	295.6	105.4	42.7	<LOQ
cat 50	94.2	13.9	18.8	<LOD
cat 51	149.8	22.5	26.8	<LOQ
cat 52	183.1	1046.8	1018.2	<LOQ
cat 53	257.3	26.1	30.3	<LOQ
cat 54	105.4	19.8	19.3	10.8
cat 55	49.7	<LOQ	7.1	<LOQ
cat 56	42.9	<LOQ	6.6	<LOD
cat 57	162.7	26.3	8.4	<LOQ
cat 58	104.0	16.7	7.5	<LOQ
cat 59	94.5	25.2	16.5	12.3
cat 60	134.3	32.5	25.7	15.6
cat 61	150.7	34.6	25.8	14.5
cat 62	737.1	385.8	174.7	14.0
cat 63	554.0	42.6	31.5	<LOD
cat 64	574.4	156.0	292.5	10.2
cat 65	758.1	142.1	156.7	31.2
cat 66	93.3	15.8	17.7	9.1
cat 67	105.0	<LOQ	17.1	<LOQ
cat 68	852.5	43.6	116.4	15.3
cat 69	60.5	<LOQ	13.4	<LOQ
cat 70	6684.5	115.5	396.4	100.7

Methylparaben (MeP) and ethylparaben (EtP) levels (pg/mg) in male (n = 37) and female (n = 33) companion-cat hair samples

	Male MeP	Female MeP	Male EtP	Female EtP
Minimum	28.7	34.3	<LOQ	<LOQ
Median	248.0	329.8	26.3	45.2
Maximum	3,223.2	7,094.7	1,046.8	6,458.2
Mean	409.8±547.1	857.0±1,620	89.5±175.3	298.9±1,117

Methylparaben (MeP) and ethylparaben (EtP) levels (pg/mg) in young, adult and senior companion-cat hair samples

	Young MeP	Adult MeP	Senior MeP	Young EtP	Adult EtP	Senior EtP
Min	28.7	42.9	49.7	<LOQ	<LOQ	<LOQ
Med	228.7	234.1	377.3	32.5	46.5	62.6
Max	7,094.7	3,223.2	1,399.9	6,458.2	1,046.8	775.2
Mean	966.3±2,005	498.7±664.1	437.4±337.0	359.3±1,399	130.3±213.3	94.8±l62.1

Propylparaben (PrP) and butylparaben (BuP) levels (pg/mg) in male (n = 37) and female (n = 33) companion-cat hair samples

	Male PrP	Female PrP	Male BuP	Female BuP
Minimum	7.5	6.6	<LOD	<LOD
Median	27.7	42.7	11.4	12.7
Maximum	1,018.2	1,793	276.5	276.4
Mean	76.7±167.3	141.9±312.4	23.5±46.2	31.4±53.5

Propylparaben (PrP) and butylparaben (BuP) levels (pg/mg) in indoor-restricted and outdoor-accessing companion-cat hair samples

	Indoor PrP	Outdoor PrP	Indoor BuP	Outdoor BuP
Minimum	6.6	7.5	<LOD	<LOD
Median	41.1	18.8	12.7	<LOQ
Maximum	1,793	211.3	276.5	54.0
Mean	132.2±275.4	49.7±57.5	30.9±54.7	13.5±17.0

Propylparaben (PrP) and butylparaben (BuP) levels (pg/mg) in underweight, normal-weight and obese companion-cat hair samples

	Underwt PrP	Normal wt PrP	Obese PrP	Underwt BuP	Normal wt BuP	Obese BuP
Min	7.9	6.6	7.1	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD
Med	44.3	29.5	29.5	11.9	11.9	10.8
Max	1,018.2	1,793	292.5	100.7	276.4	276.5
Mean	158.5±291.8	106.6±276.0	71.4±79	26.1±35.3	24.4±44.2	35.6±70.2

Paraben levels (pg/mg) and frequency (%) of detection in companion-cat hair samples (n = 70)

	MeP	EtP	PrP	BuP
Minimum (only values > LOQ)	28.7	10.8	6.6	8.9
25^th Percentile	129.6	16.5	17.6	<LOQ
Median	273.5	43.1	33.2	11.5
75^th Percentile	611.8	118.3	104.6	27.7
Maximum	7,094.7	6,458.2	1,793	276.4
Mean	620.6	188.2	107.5	27.2
SD	1,193	778.1	246.9	49.5
SEM	142.6	93.0	29.5	5.9
Geometric mean	289.4	44.6	43.0	11.6
Geometric SD factor	3.2	4.2	3.4	3.5
% samples >LOD	100	100	100	90
% samples >LOQ	100	85.7	100	64.3

Propylparaben (PrP) and butylparaben (BuP) levels (pg/mg) in young, adult and senior companion-cat hair samples

	Young PrP	Adult PrP	Senior PrP	Young BuP	Adult BuP	Senior BuP
Min	7.9	6.6	7.1	<LOD	<LOQ	<LOQ
Med	25.8	45.8	45.9	12.3	11.4	11.4
Max	1,793	1,018.2	233.1	276.4	276.5	49.1
Mean	140.4±388.9	112.2±195.8	68.2±67.1	34.3±62.5	31.1±55.4	14.9±13.4

Methylparaben (MeP) and ethylparaben (EtP) levels (pg/mg) in indoor-restricted and outdoor-accessing companion-cat hair samples

	Indoor MeP	Outdoor MeP	Indoor EtP	Outdoor EtP
Minimum	28.7	31.8	<LOQ	<LOQ
Median	295.6	149.8	60.8	16.7
Maximum	7,094.7	852.5	6,458.2	775.2
Mean	714.4±1326	276.9±265.1	216.9±871.5	83.2±198.2

Validation parameters of the method used for determination of paraben content in companion-cat hair samples

	MeP	EtP	PrP	BuP	N
LOD (pg/mg)	7.5	3.5	1.8	2.9	-
LOQ (pg/mg)	22.8	10.6	5.5	8.9	-
% recovery	79.6	88.5	95.5	99.7	4
% accuracy	104.6	107.7	107.4	106.0	4
Inter day precision (%RSD)	10.9	7.6	8.6	15.4	4
r² standard solutions	0.9959	0.9954	0.9959	0.9945	3
r² spiked samples	0.9950	0.9966	0.9973	0.9981	4

Methylparaben (MeP) and ethylparaben (EtP) levels (pg/mg) in underweight, normal-weight and obese companion-cat hair samples

	Underwt MeP	Normal wt MeP	Obese MeP	Underwt EtP	Normal wt EtP	Obese EtP
Min	31.8	28.7	49.7	<LOQ	<LOQ	<LOQ
Med	218	323.5	716.6	62.8	38.6	34.9
Max	6,684.5	7,094.7	3,223.2	1,046.8	6,458.2	421.3
Mean	848.5±1,875	568±1,086	587.9±825.8	139.3±289.4	236.9±992.3	97.2±121.1

Liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry retention times and monitoring ions mass-to-charge (m/z) values used in the analysis of companion-cat hair samples for paraben content

Paraben	Rt (min)	Precursor m/z	Product ion m/z	Dwell time	Q1 (V)	CE	Q3 (V)
MeP	7.30	151.1	92	20	18	22	18
MeP	7.30	151.1	136.1	20	18	16	25
EtP	8.89	165.1	92	20	13	22	20
EtP	8.89	165.1	137	20	13	17	27
PrP	10.25	179.1	92	20	10	24	18
PrP	10.25	179.1	136.1	20	10	18	12
BuP	11.47	193.3	137.1	20	10	17	12
BuP	11.47	193.3	93	20	11	21	19
Phenobarbital d5 (IS)	7.24	236.1	85	20	26	12	11
Phenobarbital d5 (IS)	7.24	236.1	42	20	13	17	15

Articles in this issue

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jvetres-2026-0036 | Journal eISSN: 2450-8608

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Language: English

Page range: 341 - 351

Submitted on: Jan 9, 2026

Accepted on: Jun 25, 2026

Published on: Jun 30, 2026

Published by: National Veterinary Research Institute in Pulawy

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

Keywords:

aggregate exposure,

biomonitoring,

cats,

endocrine disruptors,

Related subjects:

Microbiology and virology,

Life sciences,

Life sciences, other

© 2026 Sławomir Gonkowski, Manolis Tzatzarakis, Elena Vakonaki, Thomas Lamprakis, Krystyna Makowska, published by National Veterinary Research Institute in Pulawy
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Volume 70 (2026): Issue 2 (June 2026)

Paraben concentrations in cat hair samples

Figures & Tables

Fig. 1.

Fig. 2.

Fig. 3.

Fig. 4.

Fig 5.

Concentration levels of parabens (pg/mg) in particular animals included into the study

Methylparaben (MeP) and ethylparaben (EtP) levels (pg/mg) in male (n = 37) and female (n = 33) companion-cat hair samples

Methylparaben (MeP) and ethylparaben (EtP) levels (pg/mg) in young, adult and senior companion-cat hair samples

Propylparaben (PrP) and butylparaben (BuP) levels (pg/mg) in male (n = 37) and female (n = 33) companion-cat hair samples

Propylparaben (PrP) and butylparaben (BuP) levels (pg/mg) in indoor-restricted and outdoor-accessing companion-cat hair samples

Propylparaben (PrP) and butylparaben (BuP) levels (pg/mg) in underweight, normal-weight and obese companion-cat hair samples

Paraben levels (pg/mg) and frequency (%) of detection in companion-cat hair samples (n = 70)

Propylparaben (PrP) and butylparaben (BuP) levels (pg/mg) in young, adult and senior companion-cat hair samples

Methylparaben (MeP) and ethylparaben (EtP) levels (pg/mg) in indoor-restricted and outdoor-accessing companion-cat hair samples

Validation parameters of the method used for determination of paraben content in companion-cat hair samples

Methylparaben (MeP) and ethylparaben (EtP) levels (pg/mg) in underweight, normal-weight and obese companion-cat hair samples

Liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry retention times and monitoring ions mass-to-charge (m/z) values used in the analysis of companion-cat hair samples for paraben content

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