Impact of Pregnancy on the Levels of the Sunscreen Agent Benzophenone-3: Data from NHANES 2005-2010

Data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used to evaluate the impact of pregnancy on the levels of the sunscreen agent benzophenone-3. Regression models were fitted to evaluate this association with adjustment for other factors that affect the levels of these chemicals. There was a suggestion that pregnant females had higher levels of benzophenone-3 but the differences were not statistically significant. Even though statistically significant trends were not detected, levels of benzophenone-3 decreased over pregnancy trimesters. Smoking was associated with statistically significantly lower levels of benzophenone-3. Inability to store iron was associated with lower levels of benzophenone-3. Non-Hispanic blacks had the lowest levels of benzophenone-3 as compared with other race/ethnicities. Body mass index was inversely associated with the levels of benzophenone-3.