High Levels of BPA and BPF Exposure during Pregnancy Are Associated with Lower Birth Weight in Shenyang in Northeast China.

Animal studies indicate that bisphenol A (BPA) has obesogenic effects. Recent experiments reported similar endocrine-disrupting effects of bisphenol F (BPF) and bisphenol S (BPS), which are substitutes of BPA. The aim of this study was to investigate the exposure levels of these bisphenols in pregnant women and their effects on the physical development of infants aged 0-12 months. This study recruited pregnant women who gave birth at a hospital between February 2019 and September 2020. Urine samples from these pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy were detected by using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-triple quadruple mass spectrometry. Follow-ups at 6 and 12 months of age were conducted by telephone by pediatricians using a structured questionnaire. Multiple linear regressions were used to determine the associations between bisphenol concentrations and infant weight. A total of 113 mother-child pairs had complete questionnaires and urine samples as well as data on newborns aged 6 months and 12 months. The detection rates of urinary BPA, BPF, and BPS in pregnant women were 100, 62.83, and 46.02%, respectively. Their median levels are 5.84, 0.54, and 0.07 µg/L, respectively. Increased urinary BPA and BPF concentrations during pregnancy were significantly associated with lower birth weight (standardized regression coefficients [ß] = -0.081 kg, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.134 to -0.027; ß = -0.049 kg, 95% CI: -0.097 to -0.001). In addition, urinary BPA and BPF concentrations during pregnancy were positively associated with weight growth rate from 0 to 6 months (ß = 0.035 kg/mouth, 95% CI: 0.00-0.064; ß = 0.028 kg/mouth, 95% CI: 0.006-0.050), especially in female infants (ß = 0.054 kg/mouth, 95% CI: 0.015-0.093; ß = 0.035 kg/mouth, 95% CI: 0.005-0.065). Therefore, maternal BPA and BPF levels during pregnancy were negatively correlated with birth weight and positively correlated with the growth rate of infant weight at 0-6 months of age, especially in female infants.

Determination of the urinary concentrations of six bisphenols in public servants by online solid-phase extraction-liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.

Bisphenols are widely used as monomers and additives in plastic production. Thus, bisphenol A (BPA) and its most prominent substitutes have been detected in many environmental and human samples. This study proposes an online solid-phase extraction analytical methodology coupled to liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry for the determination of six bisphenols (BPA and bisphenols F (BPF), S (BPS), AF (BPAF), B (BPB), and E (BPE)) in urine samples as an efficient and automated methodology. The method was developed and validated for all bisphenols with good recoveries (92-112%) and repeatability (RSD ≤ 10%) despite the variable matrix effects, except BPAF (which would require a dedicated internal standard), achieving method quantification limits in the 0.05-2.2 ng mL-1 range. The methodology was subsequently applied to 435 urine samples from a non-occupational exposure population (civil servants for the regional government) from Santiago de Compostela (Galicia, Spain). Only BPA, BPF, and BPS were positively detected; the last two presented higher detection frequencies than BPA. When the urinary concentrations are extrapolated to human intake and compared to the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) tolerable daily intake (TDI) of 2 × 10-4 µg kg-1 day-1 (TDI), all BPA positively identified samples would surpass this threshold. Although no TDI exists currently for the other two identified bisphenols, it is evident that human exposure to bisphenols should be limited. Finally, the results stratification by gender revealed higher levels of exposure to BPF in the women group.

Urinary concentrations of bisphenol A and its alternatives: Potential predictors of and associations with antral follicle count among women from an infertility clinic in Northern China.

BACKGROUND: Experimental studies have suggested exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) and its alternatives, such as bisphenol F (BPF) and bisphenol S (BPS), may exert adverse effects on ovarian reserve, but human evidence is limited. Moreover, the potential predictors of exposure to bisphenols among women seeking infertility treatment have not been reported. OBJECTIVE: To explore whether individual or mixture of BPA, BPF, and BPS were related to antral follicle count (AFC), and further identify the predictors of exposure to bisphenols among women seeking assisted reproductive treatment. METHODS: A total of 111 women from a reproductive center in Shenyang, China were enrolled in this study from September 2020 to February 2021. The concentrations of urinary BPA, BPF, and BPS were measured using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-triple quadruple mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). AFC was measured by two infertility physicians through transvaginal ultrasonography on the 2-5 days of a natural cycle. Demographic characteristics, dietary habits, and lifestyles were obtained by questionnaires. The associations between individual and mixture of urinary bisphenols concentrations (BPA, BPF, and BPS) and AFC were assessed by the Poisson regression models and the quantile-based g-computation (QGC) model, respectively. The potential predictors of exposure to bisphenols were identified by the multivariate linear regression models. RESULTS: After adjusting for confounders, elevated urinary concentrations of BPA, BPF and BPS were associated with reduced AFC (ß = -0.016; 95%CI: -0.025, -0.006 in BPA; ß = -0.017; 95%CI: -0.029, -0.004 in BPF; ß = -0.128; 95%CI: -0.197, -0.060 in BPS). A quantile increase in the bisphenols mixture was negatively associated with AFC (ß = -0.101; 95%CI: -0.173, -0.030). Intake of fried food had higher urinary concentrations of BPF, BPS, and total bisphenols (∑BPs) than women who did not eat, and age was related to increased urinary BPF concentrations. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicated that exposure to individual BPA, BPF, BPS and bisphenol mixtures were associated with impaired ovarian reserve. Furthermore, the intake of fried food, as identified in this study, could serve as an important bisphenols exposure route for reproductive-aged women.

Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI influences the associations between bisphenol and phthalate exposures and maternal weight changes and fat accumulation.

BACKGROUND: Bisphenols and phthalates are two classes of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) thought to influence weight and adiposity. Limited research has investigated their influence on maternal weight changes, and no prior work has examined maternal fat mass. We examined the associations between exposure to these chemicals during pregnancy and multiple maternal weight and fat mass outcomes. METHODS: This study included a sample of 318 women enrolled in a Canadian prospective pregnancy cohort. Second trimester urinary concentrations of 2 bisphenols and 12 phthalate metabolites were quantified. Self-reported and measured maternal weights and measured skinfold thicknesses were used to calculate gestational weight gain, 3-months and 3- to 5-years postpartum weight retention, late pregnancy fat mass gain, total postpartum fat mass loss, and late postpartum fat mass retention. Adjusted robust regressions examined associations between chemicals and outcomes in the entire study population and sub-groups stratified by pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI). Bayesian kernel machine regression examined chemical mixture effects. RESULTS: Among women with underweight or normal pre-pregnancy BMIs, MBzP was negatively associated with weight retention at 3- to 5-years postpartum (B = -0.04, 95%CI: -0.07, -0.01). Among women with overweight or obese pre-pregnancy BMIs, MEHP and MMP were positively associated with weight retention at 3-months and 3- to 5-years postpartum, respectively (B's = 0.12 to 0.63, 95%CIs: 0.02, 1.07). DEHP metabolites and MCNP were positively associated with late pregnancy fat mass gain and late postpartum fat mass retention (B's = 0.04 to 0.18, 95%CIs: 0.001, 0.32). Further, the mixture of EDCs was positively associated with late pregnancy fat mass gain. CONCLUSION: In this cohort, pre-pregnancy BMI was a key determinant of the associations between second trimester exposure to bisphenols and phthalates and maternal weight changes and fat accumulation. Investigations of underlying physiological mechanisms, windows of susceptibility, and impacts on maternal and infant health are needed.

Bisphenol A and cardiometabolic risk in adolescents: Data from the Generation XXI cohort.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine disruptor widely used in food contact materials, has been linked to a worse health profile. This study intends to estimate the association between BPA exposure and cardiometabolic patterns at adolescence. METHODS AND RESULTS: Data from the Portuguese population-based birth cohort Generation XXI at the age of 13 were used (n = 2386 providing 3-day food diaries and fasting blood samples). BPA exposure was measured in 24-h urine from a subsample (n = 206) and then predicted in all participants using a random forest method and considering dietary intake from diaries. Three cardiometabolic patterns were identified (normal, modified lipid profile and higher cardiometabolic risk) using a probabilistic Gaussian mixture model. Multinomial regression models were applied to associate BPA exposure (lower, medium, higher) and cardiometabolic patterns, adjusting for confounders. The median BPA exposure was 1532 ng/d, corresponding to 29.4 ng/kg/d. Adolescents higher exposed to BPA (compared to medium and lower levels) had higher BMI z-score (kg/m2) (0.68 vs. 0.39 and 0.52, respectively; p = 0.008), higher levels of body fat (kg) (16.3 vs. 13.8 and 14.6, respectively; p = 0.002), waist circumference (76.2 vs. 73.7 and 74.9, respectively; p = 0.026), insulinemia (ug/mL) (14.1 vs. 12.7 and 13.1, respectively; p = 0.039) and triglyceridemia (mg/dL) (72.7 vs. 66.1 and 66.5, respectively; p = 0.030). After adjustment, a significant association between higher BPA and a higher cardiometabolic risk pattern was observed (OR: 2.55; 95%CI: 1.41, 4.63). CONCLUSION: Higher BPA exposure was associated with a higher cardiometabolic risk pattern in adolescents, evidencing the role of food contaminants in health.

Cholesterol mediates the effects of single and multiple environmental phenols in urine on obesity.

BACKGROUND: Overweight and obesity are among the leading chronic diseases worldwide. Environmental phenols have been renowned as endocrine disruptors that contribute to weight changes; however, the effects of exposure to mixed phenols on obesity are not well established. METHODS: Using data from adults in National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, this study examined the individual and combined effects of four phenols on obesity. A combination of traditional logistic regression and two mixed models (weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression and Bayesian kernel-machine regression (BKMR)) were used together to assess the role of phenols in the development of obesity. The potential mediation of cholesterol on these effects was analyzed through a parallel mediation model. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that solitary phenols except triclosan were inversely associated with obesity (P-value < 0.05). The WQS index was also negatively correlated with general obesity (ß: 0.770, 95% CI: 0.644-0.919, P-value = 0.004) and abdominal obesity (ß: 0.781, 95% CI: 0.658-0.928, P-value = 0.004). Consistently, the BKMR model demonstrated the significant joint negative effects of phenols on obesity. The parallel mediation analysis revealed that high-density lipoprotein mediated the effects of all four single phenols on obesity, whereas low-density lipoprotein only mediated the association between benzophenol-3 and obesity. Moreover, Cholesterol acts as a mediator of the association between mixed phenols and obesity. Exposure to single and mixed phenols significantly and negatively correlated with obesity. Cholesterol mediated the association of single and mixed environmental phenols with obesity. CONCLUSIONS: Assessing the potential public health risks of mixed phenols helps to incorporate this information into practical health advice and guidance.

Environmental triggers of autoimmunity: The association between bisphenol analogues and systemic lupus erythematosus.

The aim of this research was to examine the correlation between the exposure to bisphenol analogues (BPs), such as bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol F (BPF), and bisphenol S (BPS), and the risk of developing systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Ultra performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was utilized to measure the levels of BPA, BPF, and BPS in the urine of 168 female participants diagnosed with SLE and 175 female participants who were deemed healthy controls. Logistic regression models were utilized to assess the connections between levels of bisphenol and the risk of SLE. The findings indicated that levels of BPA and BPF in the urine of individuals with SLE were markedly elevated compared to those in the control group. Higher exposure to BPA and BPF exhibited positive dose-response relationships with increased SLE risk. No significant associations were identified between BPS and the risk of SLE. These findings suggest exposure to BPA and BPF may be implicated as novel environmental triggers in the development of autoimmunity such as SLE. The significantly increased levels of these bisphenol analogues detected in SLE patients versus healthy controls, along with the associations between higher exposures and elevated SLE risk, which offers crucial hints for comprehending how endocrine-disrupting substances contribute to the genesis of autoimmune illnesses. Further research using robust longitudinal assessments of bisphenol analogue exposures is warranted to corroborate these epidemiological findings. Overall, this study highlights potential environmental risk factors for SLE while calling for additional investigation into the impact of bisphenol exposures on autoimmunity development.

[Determination of six bisphenols in human urine by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry].

OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate a solid phase extraction-ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of six bisphenols(bisphenol S, bisphenol F, bisphenol A, 2, 2'-methylenediphenol, bisphenol AF, bisphenol AP) in urine. METHODS: After enzymolysis of urine sample, the target substances were quickly purified and extracted by WAX solid phase extraction column. On ACQUITY BEH C_(18) column(2.1 mm×100 mm, 1.7 µm), the mobile phase of water and methanol was used to separate. Finally, multi-reaction detection was carried out under electrospray negative ion scanning, and quantification was carried out by internal standard method. RESULTS: The correlation coefficients(r) of the target compounds were all more than 0.998 in the range of 0.1-50.0 ng/mL, the linearity was good, and the detection limits were all lower than 0.1 ng/mL. The recoveries of the three standard concentrations(0.5, 5.0 and 50.0 ng/mL) were all between 80% and 120%, and the relative standard deviation was less than 20%(n=5). The standard reference material was detected and the concentration was within the reference range. CONCLUSION: This method can be used to detect six bisphenols in urine quickly and accurately, is suitable for the trace analysis of bisphenol compounds in human urine.

Comprehensive monitoring of a special mixture of prominent endocrine disrupting chemicals in human urine using a carefully adjusted hydrolysis of conjugates.

Many xenobiotics were identified as possible endocrine disruptors during the last decades. Structural analogy of these substances to natural hormones may lead to agonists or antagonists of hormone receptors. For a comprehensive human biomonitoring of such substances, we developed a simple, reliable, and highly sensitive method for the simultaneous monitoring of the parameters bisphenol A, triclosan, methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, benzophenone-1, benzophenone-3, 3,5,6-trichloropyridin-2-ol, p-nitrophenol, genistein, and daidzein in urine. Thereby, optimization of the enzymatic hydrolysis and the use of ß-glucuronidase from E. coli K12 as well as sulfatase from Aerobacter aerogenes ensures the acquisition of intact analytes without cleavage of ester bonds among parabens. Validation of the method revealed limits of detection between 0.02 and 0.25 µg/L as well as limits of quantification between 0.08 and 0.83 µg/L. Thereby, the use of analyte-free surrogate matrix for calibration and control material influenced the sensitivity of the procedure positively. Furthermore, excellent precision in and between series was observed. Good absolute and relative recoveries additionally proved the robustness of the multimethod. Thus, the procedure can be applied for exploring the exposome to these prominent endocrine disruptors in the general population.

Environment-wide association study to identify exposure pathways of bisphenol A in Korean children and adolescents: Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) 2018-2020.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine-disrupting chemical commonly used in manufacturing plastic products. Despite ongoing efforts and regulatory measures, BPA exposure among children persists. This study aimed to identify the modifiable factors associated with urinary BPA levels in Korean children and adolescents. We conducted an environment-wide association study (EWAS) using data from the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) Cycle 4. This study included 578 preschoolers, 736 school-aged children, and 828 adolescents. A total of 117, 103, and 102 modifiable factors were selected from KoNEHS Cycle 4. Each modifiable factor associated with urinary BPA levels was tested using a multivariable linear regression model. Subsequently, multiple testing corrections were performed using false discovery rate (FDR) estimation. For the validation phase, we used the iteration of the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), a machine learning-based regression analysis. After the validation phase of the LASSO regression, two modifiable factors were identified as being significantly related to urinary BPA levels in preschoolers. Urinary cotinine levels and the use of slime or clay toys were positively associated with urinary BPA levels in preschoolers. However, no significant associations were observed between school-aged children and adolescents. Our results suggest novel exposure pathways to BPA in recent lifestyles and contribute to the development of effective prevention strategies. These modifiable factors provide valuable targets for interventions aimed at reducing BPA exposure in children. Further research is needed to explore additional modifiable factors and confirm our results in larger and more diverse populations.

Prenatal bisphenol A and S exposure and atopic disease phenotypes at age 6.

BACKGROUND: Atopic disease may be influenced by prenatal and early life exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals, including bisphenols, but results from epidemiological studies have been mixed. This study aimed to extend the epidemiological literature, hypothesizing that children with higher prenatal bisphenol exposure are more likely to have childhood atopic disease. METHODS: Urinary bisphenol A (BPA) and S (BPS) concentrations were measured in each trimester from 501 pregnant women in a multi-center, prospective pregnancy cohort. Ever asthma, current asthma, wheeze, and food allergy) were assessed at age six via standardized ISAAC questionnaire. We constructed generalized estimating equations to examine BPA and BPS exposure jointly at each trimester for each atopy phenotype. BPA was modeled as a log-transformed continuous variable, whereas BPS was modeled as detected versus not detected. We also modeled pregnancy-averaged BPA values and a categorical indicator for number of detectable BPS values over pregnancy (0-3) in logistic regression models. RESULTS: First trimester BPA was associated with inverse odds of food allergy among the entire study sample (OR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.64-0.95, p = 0.01) and females only (OR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.52-0.90, p = 0.006). The inverse relationship persisted in pregnancy-averaged models of BPA among females (OR = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.35-0.90, p = 0.006). Second trimester BPA was associated with greater odds of food allergy in the entire sample (OR = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.02-1.58, p = 0.03) and among males only (OR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.02-2.14, p = 0.04). Odds of current asthma increased among males in the pregnancy-averaged BPS models (OR = 1.65, 95% CI = 1.01-2.69, p = 0.045). CONCLUSION: We saw opposite effects of BPA on food allergy that were trimester- and sex-specific. These divergent associations warrant further investigation. There is some evidence to suggest that prenatal BPS is associated with asthma among males, but further research is required in cohorts with a greater proportion of prenatal urine samples with detectable BPS to validate these results.

Temporal trends in risk of bisphenol A, benzophenone-3 and triclosan exposure among U.S. children and adolescents aged 6-19 years: Findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2016.

BACKGROUND: Phenolic compounds with potential adverse health effects are gradually being replaced. Little is known about the potential health risks of BPA, BP3, and TCS exposure in children and adolescents aged 6-19 years in the United States. OBJECTIVES: To determine trends and rates of change in hazard indices (HI) for three phenolics in U.S. children and adolescents for BPA, BP3, TCS, and to assess changes in gender, race/ethnicity, age, and potential health risks. METHODS: Metabolic biomonitoring data from field-collected urine samples from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were utilized. Daily intake of three phenols (bisphenol A, benzophenone-3, and triclosan) between 2005 and 2016 in children and adolescents were obtained. Cumulative risk indicators, including hazard quotient (HQ), hazard index (HI), and maximum cumulative ratio (MCR), were used for the health risk assessment of the three phenols. RESULTS: During this period, the change in LSGM HI was -2.9% per cycle [95% Cl: (-3.7%, -2.2%)], and the percentage of participants with HI > 0.1 decreased from 15.6% to 10.5%. Children (6-11 years) had higher mean HI values than adolescents (12-19 years), while female had higher LSGM HI values than male. MCR values were generally low and negatively correlated with HI. However, the average value of MCR increased from 1.722 to 2.107 during this period. CONCLUSION: Exposure to phenolics among U.S. children and adolescents has changed in recent decades. However, gaps in data limit the interpretation of trends but legislative activity and advocacy campaigns by nongovernmental organizations may play a role in changing trends. Moreover, there are growing concerns about the potential health risks associated with exposure to multiple phenols in children and adolescents.

Exposure to phthalate metabolites, bisphenol A, and psychosocial stress mixtures and pregnancy outcomes in the Atlanta African American maternal-child cohort.

BACKGROUND: Consumer products are common sources of exposure for phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA), which disrupt the endocrine system. Psychosocial stressors have been shown to amplify the toxic effects of endocrine disruptors but, information is limited among African Americans (AAs), who experience the highest rates of adverse pregnancy outcomes and are often exposed to the highest levels of chemical and non-chemical stressors. We examined the association between an exposure mixture of phthalate metabolites, BPA, and psychosocial stressors with gestational age at delivery and birthweight for gestational age z-scores in pregnant AA women. STUDY DESIGN: Participants were enrolled in the Atlanta African American Maternal-Child Cohort (N = 247). Concentrations of eight phthalate metabolites and BPA were measured in urine samples collected at up to two timepoints during pregnancy (8-14 weeks gestation and 20-32 weeks gestation) and were averaged. Psychosocial stressors were measured using self-reported, validated questionnaires that assessed experiences of discrimination, gendered racial stress, depression, and anxiety. Linear regression was used to estimate individual associations between stress exposures (chemical and psychosocial) and birth outcomes. We leveraged quantile g-computation was used to examine joint effects of chemical and stress exposures on gestational age at delivery (in weeks) and birthweight for gestational age z-scores. RESULTS: A simultaneous increase in all phthalate metabolites and BPA was associated with a moderate reduction in birthweight z-scores (mean change per quartile increase = -0.22, 95% CI = -0.45, 0.0). The association between our exposure mixture and birthweight z-scores became stronger when including psychosocial stressors as additional exposures (mean change per quantile increase = -0.35, 95% CI = -0.61, -0.08). Overall, we found null associations between exposure to chemical and non-chemical stressors with gestational age at delivery. CONCLUSIONS: In a prospective cohort of AA mother-newborn dyads, we observed that increased prenatal exposure to phthalates, BPA, and psychosocial stressors were associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Serum glycolipids mediate the relationship of urinary bisphenols with NAFLD: analysis of a population-based, cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Bisphenol A (BPA) and its substitutes bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol F (BPF) are endocrine-disrupting chemicals widely used in consumer products, which have been proposed to induce various human diseases. In western countries, one of the most common liver diseases is non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, studies on the associations of the three bisphenols with NAFLD in human beings are scarce. METHODS: We included 960 participants aged ≥ 20 years from the NHANES 2013-16 who had available data on levels of urinary BPA, BPS and BPF. The hepatic steatosis index (HSI) > 36 was used to predict NAFLD. Logistic regression analysis and mediation effect analysis were used to evaluate the associations among bisphenols, glycolipid-related markers and NAFLD. RESULTS: A total of 540 individuals (56.3%) were diagnosed with NAFLD, who had higher concentrations of BPA and BPS but not BPF than those without NAFLD. An increasing trend in NAFLD risks and HSI levels was observed among BPA and BPS tertiles (p for trend < 0.05). After adjustment for confounders, elevated levels of BPA or BPS but not BPF were significantly associated with NAFLD. The odds ratio for NAFLD was 1.581 (95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.1-2.274, p = 0.013) comparing the highest with the lowest tertile of BPA and 1.799 (95%CI: 1.2462.597, p = 0.002) for BPS. Mediation effect analysis indicated that serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and glucose had a mediating effect on the relationships between bisphenols and NAFLD. CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed that high exposure levels of BPA and BPS increased NAFLD incidence, which might be mediated through regulating glycolipids metabolism. Further studies on the role of bisphenols in NAFLD are warranted.

Mitigating the impact of bisphenol A exposure on mortality: Is diet the key? A cohort study based on NHANES.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a widespread environmental pollutant linked to detrimental effects on human health and reduced life expectancy following chronic exposure. This prospective cohort study aimed to examine the association between BPA exposure and mortality in American adults and to explore the potential mitigating effects of dietary quality on BPA-related mortality. This study utilized data from 8761 American adults in the 2003-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Urinary BPA levels were employed to assess BPA exposure, and dietary quality was evaluated using the Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015). All-cause, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and cancer mortality statuses were determined until December 31, 2019, resulting in a cumulative follow-up of 80,564 person-years. The results showed that the highest tertile of urinary BPA levels corresponded to a 36% increase in all-cause mortality and a 62% increase in CVD mortality compared to the lowest tertile. In contrast, the highest tertile of HEI-2015 scores was associated with a 29% reduction in all-cause mortality relative to the lowest tertile. Although no significant interaction was found between HEI-2015 scores and urinary BPA levels concerning mortality, the association between HEI-2015 scores and both all-cause and CVD mortality was statistically significant at low urinary BPA levels. Continuous monitoring of BPA exposure is crucial for evaluating its long-term adverse health effects. Improving dietary quality can lower all-cause mortality and decrease the risk of all-cause and CVD mortality at low BPA exposure levels. However, due to the limited protective effect of dietary quality against BPA exposure, minimizing BPA exposure remains a vital goal.

Associations Between Phthalate, Eosinophil, and Aeroallergen Sensitization in Schoolchildren.

BACKGROUND: Phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA) are endocrine-disrupting chemicals and may cause immunological disorders in children. Therefore, according to the region, we investigated urinary phthalates and BPA levels and the relationship between urinary phthalate, aeroallergen sensitization, and eosinophil count during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. METHODS: In total, 203 schoolchildren (134 residential and 69 industrial) aged 7-10 years were enrolled between July 2021 and July 2022. The BPA, metabolites of four high-molecular-weight phthalates (Σ4HMWP) and three low-molecular-weight phthalates (Σ3LMWP), were measured in the urine samples. Total eosinophil count and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) were also measured along with the skin prick test. RESULTS: The two groups had no differences in terms of BPA. The industrial group had significantly more plastic container usage, and there was a difference in the Σ3LMWP (P < 0.001) between the two groups but no difference in the Σ4HMWP (P = 0.234). The quartiles of urinary Σ4HMWP and Σ3LMWP (P < were not associated with the total eosinophil count, vitamin D level, or TEWL. After adjusting for cofactors, the quartiles of urinary Σ4HMWP and Σ3LMWP were significantly associated with total eosinophil count (P < 0.001) but not with aeroallergen sensitization or vitamin D. CONCLUSION: Exposure to phthalates was significantly associated with eosinophil count but not with aeroallergen sensitization or vitamin D. Therefore, reducing the use of plastic containers may effectively prevent exposure to phthalates and reduce Th2 cell-mediated inflammation in children.

Urinary concentrations of bisphenol analogues in the south of China population and their contribution to the per capital mass loads in wastewater.

Bisphenol analogues (BPs) are heavily used and negatively affect the health of human beings, however, there is little knowledge regarding human exposure to BPs other than BPA. This study aims to assess human exposure to BPs through investigating pooled urine and wastewater samples. Twenty-four pooled urine samples were prepared from 960 specimens (classified by age and gender). Wastewater samples were collected from six major wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Guangzhou, South of China. BPA, BPS, and BPAF were widely detected in urine samples, with a median concentration of 0.96, 0.42, and 0.15 µg/L, respectively. Median urinary levels of BPA and BPS were higher in males than females (p > 0.05). In addition, BPA and BPS urinary levels in young adults (15-30 years old) were greater than those in children (0-15 years old) (p > 0.05). Nevertheless, most of the BPs were detected in wastewater samples, of which BPA and BPS were predominant BPs, with a median concentration of 1.0 and 0.29 µg/L. The average per capital mass loads of ΣBPs on the weekdays of mix typed WWTP was much higher than those of the weekends. Nonetheless, the average loads of ΣBPs on the weekdays of domestic WWTP was slightly lower than those of the weekends. This indicated that important sources of BPs might include industrial wastewater and household cleaning products. Urinary BPA, BPS, and BPAF accounted for less than 5% per capital mass loads in wastewater, suggesting that much of the BPA, BPS, and BPAF in municipal wastewater originate non-human excretion. Hence, the wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) approach based on parent compounds is not available for assessing human exposure to BPs, neither for other industrial chemicals with diverse sources in municipal wastewater. These results contributes to the development of an efficient surveillance system which can provide insight in the trends of human exposure of BPs.

European interlaboratory comparison investigations (ICI) and external quality assurance schemes (EQUAS) for the analysis of bisphenol A, S and F in human urine: Results from the HBM4EU project.

The Human Biomonitoring for Europe initiative (HBM4EU) aims to study the exposure of citizens to chemicals and potentially associated health effects. One objective of this project has been to build a network of laboratories able to answer to the requirements of European human biomonitoring studies. Within the HBM4EU quality assurance and quality control scheme (QA/QC), a number of interlaboratory comparison investigations (ICIs) and external quality assurance schemes (EQUASs) were organized to ensure data consistency, comparability and reliability. Bisphenols are among the prioritized substance groups in HBM4EU, including bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol F (BPF) in human urine. In four rounds of ICI/EQUAS, two target concentration levels were considered, related to around P25 and P95 of the typical exposure distribution observed in the European general population. Special attention was paid to the conjugated phase II metabolites known to be most dominant in samples of environmentally exposed individuals, through the analysis of both native samples and samples fortified with glucuronide forms. For the low level, the average percentage of satisfactory results across the four rounds was 83% for BPA, 71% for BPS and 62% for BPF. For the high level, the percentages of satisfactory results increased to 93% for BPA, 89% for BPS and 86% for BPF. 24 out of 32 participating laboratories (75%) were approved for the analyses of BPA in the HBM4EU project according to the defined criterion of Z-scores for both low and high concentration levels in at least two ICI/EQUAS rounds. For BPS and BPF, the number of qualified laboratories was 18 out of 27 (67%) and 13 out of 28 (46%), respectively. These results demonstrate a strong analytical capability for BPA and BPS in Europe, while improvements may be needed for BPF.

Pregnancy exposure to bisphenol A and duration of breastfeeding.

INTRODUCTION: Bisphenol A (BPA) is frequently used in the production of plastics. It is an endocrine disruptor, and BPA exposure in mice has been associated with reduced offspring growth due to insufficient milk production. However, human studies of associations between BPA exposure and duration of breastfeeding are sparse. METHODS: Pregnant women from the Odense Child Cohort (n = 725) donated a third trimester morning urine sample, which was analyzed for BPA by LC-MS/MS. Information about duration of exclusive and any breastfeeding was obtained through questionnaires three and 18 months postpartum, and a subgroup of women responded to weekly text messages about breastfeeding. Associations between pregnancy BPA exposure and duration of breastfeeding were analyzed using Cox regression adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: The median urine BPA concentration was 1.29 ng/mL. Compared to women within the lowest tertile of BPA exposure, women in the second and third tertile were slightly more likely to terminate breastfeeding at any given time; HRs (95% CI) were 1.05 (0.87; 1.26) and 1.06 (0.89; 1.27), respectively, and to terminate exclusive breastfeeding at any time up to 20 weeks after birth, HRs (95% CI) were 1.07 (0.88; 1.28) and 1.06 (0.88; 1.27), respectively. However, confidence intervals were also compatible with no effect or even a protective effect. DISCUSSION: This study indicated that high BPA exposure in pregnancy was associated with shorter duration of breastfeeding. Although our findings were not statistically significant, all estimates were above one suggesting increased risk of early breastfeeding termination with high exposure. Using a single spot morning urine sample to measure BPA has likely caused imprecision as it might not adequately reflect long term exposure. Future studies should consider measuring BPA more than once, including other timepoints during pregnancy and after birth.

Phthalate and bisphenol a exposures during pregnancy: Findings from the National Children's Study.

Maternal exposure to phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA) during pregnancy can result in many adverse offspring health outcomes. Exposure to phthalates and BPA can vary depending on consumption of certain foods, some of which may vary by race/ethnicity. This study relates urine phthalate and BPA concentrations to sociodemographic and diet data. Concentrations of bisphenol A (BPA) and 11 phthalate metabolites were measured from spot urine at the third trimester visit of a sample of 485 pregnant women from the National Children's Study Vanguard Study Pilot data from seven U.S. cities. At the same time, food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) using the Diet*Calc software were obtained from 313 (65%) participants to assess dietary behavior. Overall, phthalate metabolites were highest among Hispanic women, particularly mBP, miBP, and mECPP, and these disparities were not explained by diet. Participants who did not attend college had higher concentrations of mBP, mBzP, mEP, and miBP, and lower mCOP. These disparities were also not explained by diet. The causes for these disparities should be further studied to reduce potential negative health outcomes associated with phthalate exposure for children of Hispanic or non-college educated women.