Determination of bisphenol A and bisphenol S concentrations and assessment of estrogen- and anti-androgen-like activities in thermal paper receipts from Brazil, France, and Spain.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a high-production-volume chemical with endocrine disrupting properties commonly used as color developer in thermal paper. Concerns about the potential hazards of human BPA exposure have led to the increasing utilization of alternatives such as bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol F (BPF). This study was designed to assess: (i) BPA, BPS, and BPF concentrations in 112 thermal paper receipts from Brazil, France, and Spain by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS); and (ii) hormone-like activities of these receipts using two receptor-specific bioassays, the E-Screen for (anti-)estrogenicity and PALM luciferase assay for (anti-)androgenicity. BPA was present in 95.3% of receipts from Spain, 90.9% of those from Brazil, and 51.1% of those from France at concentrations up to 20.27 mg/g of paper. Only two samples from Brazil, two from Spain, and ten from France had a BPS concentration ranging from 6.46 to 13.29 mg/g; no BPA or BPS was detected in 27.7% of French samples. No BPF was detected in any receipt. Estrogenic activity was observed in all samples from Brazil and Spain and in 74.5% of those from France. Anti-androgenic activity was observed in > 90% of samples from Brazil and Spain and in 53.2% of those from France. Only 25.5% of French samples were negative for both estrogenic and anti-androgenic activity. Estrogenic and anti-androgenic activities per gram of paper were up to 1.411 µM estradiol (E2) equivalent units (E2eq) and up to 359.5 mM procymidone equivalent units (Proceq), respectively. BPA but not BPS concentrations were positively correlated with both estrogenic and anti-androgenic activities. BPA still dominates the thermal paper market in Brazil and Spain, and BPS appears to be one of the main alternatives in France. There is an urgent need to evaluate the safety of alternatives proposed to replace BPA as developer in thermal printing. The large proportion of samples with hormonal activity calls for the adoption of preventive measures.

Assessment of perfluoroalkyl substances in placenta by coupling salt assisted liquid-liquid extraction with dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction prior to liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

The widespread use of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is resulting in a broad human exposure to these endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), prompting biomonitoring research to evaluate its magnitude and impact, especially during critical windows of exposure such as fetal and perinatal periods. This study was focused on developing a method to determine 10 PFAS in placental tissue by combining salt-assisted liquid-liquid extraction with dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction and using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Chemometric strategies were applied to optimize the experimental parameters. The limit of quantification was 0.02 ng g-1 for all analytes, and the inter-day variability (as relative standard deviation) ranged from 7.9% to 13.8%. Recoveries ranged from 88.2% to 113.9%. The suitableness of the procedure was demonstrated by assessing the targeted compounds in 20 placenta samples. The highest concentrations were recorded for perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctane sulfonate, with maximum concentrations of 0.62 and 1.02 ng g-1 and median concentrations of 0.13 and 0.53 ng g-1, respectively. Median concentrations of the other PFAS ranged from detected values to 0.08 ng g-1. This analytical procedure yields useful data on fetal exposure to PFAS.

Determination of bisphenols, parabens, and benzophenones in placenta by dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Human exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) is of particular concern during development. Bisphenols, parabens, and benzophenones are EDCs widely used in the manufacture of numerous goods, personal care products, and cosmetics. The aim of this study was to develop a new and practical method for determining three bisphenols, four parabens, and five benzophenones in placenta samples. It uses dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) in combination with gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). Several chemometric approaches were employed to optimize the experimental parameters. Limits of detection ranged from 0.04 to 0.08 ng g-1 and inter-day variabilities (evaluated as relative standard deviation) from 4.2% to 13.4%. The method was validated using matrix-matched standard calibration followed by a recovery assay with spiked samples. Recovery percentages ranged from 87.1% to 113.2%. Finally, the method was used to measure target compounds in 20 placental tissue samples from voluntary donors. This analytical procedure can provide information on the exposure of the fetus to non-persistent EDCs.

QuEChERS and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of parabens and ultraviolet filters in human milk samples.

Concerns are growing about human exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), especially during developmental stages. Parabens (PBs) and ultraviolet filters (UVFs) are prevalent EDCs widely used as additives in cosmetics and personal care products (PCPs). The objective of this study was to develop a method to determine four PBs and ten UVFs in human milk using QuEChERS treatment and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). Multivariate strategies were applied to optimize experimental parameters. Limits of quantification ranged from 0.1 to 0.2 ng mL-1 and inter-day variability (evaluated as relative standard deviation) from 6% to 13%. The method was validated using matrix-matched standard calibration followed by a recovery assay with spiked samples. Recovery percentages ranged from 87% to 112%. The method was satisfactorily applied to assess target compounds in human milk samples from 15 donors. This analytical procedure can provide information on newborn exposure to these EDCs.

Exposure to bisphenol A and behavior in school-age children.

INTRODUCTION: Bisphenol A (BPA) exposure has been shown to affect human brain neurodevelopment and behavior. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate whether environmental exposure to BPA in children was associated with their childhood behavior. METHODS: Urinary BPA concentrations and behavioral characteristics were assessed in 300 children belonging to the INMA "Environment and Childhood" Granada birth cohort in their follow-up at 9-11 years of age. BPA concentrations were quantified in urine using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS), and child behavior reported by parents using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL/6-18) under supervision of a psychologist. The association between BPA concentrations and CBCL standardized scores was analyzed using linear regression models, adjusted for important covariates. RESULTS: Median (P25, P75) BPA concentration was 4.76 (2.77, 9.03)µg/L. Mean (±SD) CBCL externalizing and internalizing scores were 56.35 (±8.06) and 51.36 (±9.22), respectively. In multivariate regression analyses, adjusted for maternal and child characteristics, higher BPA concentrations were associated with worse behavioral scores on all scales. Children with BPA concentrations in the 4th quartile had more somatic complaints (ß=2.35; 95% CI: 0.25, 4.46) and social (ß=1.71; 95% CI: 0.19, 3.22) and thought problems (ß=2.58; 95% CI: 0.66, 4.51) in comparison to those in the 1st quartile. Children with values in the 3rd quartile of BPA concentrations also showed greater social problems (ß=1.94; 95% CI: 0.43, 3.45). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that exposure to BPA in childhood may affect children's behavior. Although further investigations are required, preventive measures should be undertaken to reduce inadvertent exposure to BPA.