A pilot study: Relationship between Bisphenol A, Bisphenol A glucuronide and sex steroid hormone levels in cord blood 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 examine the relationship of BPA and its naturally occurring metabolite BPA-glucuronide (BPA-g) with sex steroid hormone levels in South African mother-child pairs.Third-trimester serum maternal samples and matching cord blood samples were analyzed for BPA, BPA-g and nine sex steroid hormones using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS).Sixty maternal and child pairs were analyzed. Rank correlation demonstrated a significant positive relationship between cord blood estradiol and cord blood BPA (p = 0.002) and maternal BPA levels (p = 0.02) respectively. Cord blood testosterone from male infants showed a negative Spearman’s correlation (r=-0.5, p = 0.02) with maternal BPA-g. There was no statistical difference in total testosterone levels in cord blood from male and female infants.The findings of the current study indicate a significant relationship between some key sex steroid hormones namely testosterone, dihydrotestosterone and estradiol and fetal exposure BPA.