Abstract
BackgroundBisphenol A (BPA) is a high production volume chemical widely used in food and drinks packaging. Associations have previously been reported between urinary BPA concentrations and heart disease, diabetes and liver enzymes in adult participants of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003/04. We aimed to estimate associations between urinary BPA concentrations and health measures in NHANES 2005/06 and in data pooled across collection years.Methodology and FindingsA cross-sectional analysis of NHANES: subjects were n = 1455 (2003/04) and n = 1493 (2005/06) adults aged 18–74 years, representative of the general adult population of the United States. Regression models were adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, income, smoking, BMI, waist circumference, and urinary creatinine concentration. Main outcomes were reported diagnoses of heart attack, coronary heart disease, angina and diabetes and serum liver enzyme levels. Urinary BPA concentrations in 2005/06 (geometric mean 1.79 ng/ml, 95% CI: 1.64 to 1.96) were lower than in 2003/04 (2.49 ng/ml, CI: 2.20 to 2.83, difference p-value = 0.00002). Higher BPA concentrations were associated with coronary heart disease in 2005/06 (OR per z-score increase in BPA = 1.33, 95%CI: 1.01 to 1.75, p = 0.043) and in pooled data (OR = 1.42, CI: 1.17 to 1.72, p = 0.001). Associations with diabetes did not reach significance in 2005/06, but pooled estimates remained significant (OR = 1.24, CI: 1.10 to 1.40, p = 0.001). There was no overall association with gamma glutamyl transferase concentrations, but pooled associations with alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase remained significant.ConclusionsHigher BPA exposure, reflected in higher urinary concentrations of BPA, is consistently associated with reported heart disease in the general adult population of the USA. Studies to clarify the mechanisms of these associations are urgently needed.
Highlights
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a man-made compound that is suspected to act as an endocrine disruptor, i.e. a compound capable of causing dysfunction to hormonally regulated body systems [1]
Urinary BPA levels were lower in the 2005/06 cohort (Figure 1) than in the 2003/04 cohort: unadjusted geometric means: 1.79 ng/ml vs 2.49 ng/ml (CI: 2.20 to 2.83); unadjusted arithmetic means: 3.30 ng/ml (CI: 2.88 to 3.72) vs 4.59 ng/ml (CI: 3.95 to 5.24)
In regression analyses of logged BPA concentration adjusting for age, gender, ethnicity and urinary creatinine, the difference in BPA levels between National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) waves was significant:
Summary
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a man-made compound that is suspected to act as an endocrine disruptor, i.e. a compound capable of causing dysfunction to hormonally regulated body systems [1]. Widespread and continuous human exposure to BPA is believed to be mainly through dietary intake [3], with additional exposure through drinking water, dental sealants, dermal exposure and inhalation of household dusts. It is one of the world’s highest production volume compounds and human biomonitoring data indicates that the majority (over 90%) of the general population is exposed to BPA, evidenced by the presence of measurable concentrations of metabolites in the urine of population representative samples [4,5,6]. We aimed to estimate associations between urinary BPA concentrations and health measures in NHANES 2005/06 and in data pooled across collection years
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
