A pilot study: Bisphenol–A and Bisphenol-A glucuronide levels in mother and child pairs in a South African population

Abstract

Exposure to Bisphenol A (BPA) during early development particularly in- utero has been linked to a wide range of pathology. The aim of this study was to determine serum levels of BPA and its naturally occurring metabolite BPA-glucuronide (BPA-g) in South African mother-child pairs. MethodThird-trimester serum maternal samples and matching cord blood samples were analysed for BPA and BPA-g using LC–MS/MS. ResultsNinety maternal and child pairs were analysed. BPA was detectable in more than 25% of maternal and cord blood samples. Spearman correlation demonstrated significant positive correlation between maternal and child BPA and BPA-g levels with correlation coefficients of 0.892 and 0.744, respectively. A significant positive association between cord BPA levels and child birth-weight (p = 0.02) as well as with maternal BMI (p = 0.04) was noted. ConclusionThis is the first study to describe the presence of detectable BPA levels using LC–MS/MS methodology in a South African population.