Bisphenol A in human placental and fetal liver tissues collected from Greater Montreal area (Quebec) during 1998–2008

Abstract

In this study, the presence of bisphenol A (BPA) in human placental and fetal liver samples collected from 1998 to 2008 was investigated to provide a more detailed analysis of the transfer of BPA across the placenta and fetal exposure to BPA. The average concentrations in placental samples were 12.6ngg−1 for free BPA, 17.2ngg−1 for BPA-glu, and 30.2ngg−1 for total BPA. The highest concentrations in placental samples were 165ngg−1 for free BPA, 178ngg−1 for BPA-glu, and 280ngg−1 for total BPA. Samples with higher levels of BPA-glu had higher levels of free BPA in general. Fetal age was observed to have a significant effect on BPA-glu levels in placental samples, but not on free or total BPA. The percentages of free BPA relative to total BPA for the placental samples varied considerably from 4.2% to 100%, suggesting that the ability of maternal liver and/or the placenta to conjugate BPA is highly variable during early to mid-gestation. The average concentrations in fetal liver samples were 9.02ngg−1 for free BPA, 19.1ngg−1 for BPA-glu, and 25.8ngg−1 for total BPA. The highest concentrations in fetal liver samples were 37.7ngg−1 for free BPA, 93.9ngg−1 for BPA-glu, and 123ngg−1 for total BPA. The percentages of free BPA level relative to total BPA for all fetal liver samples varied from 12.4% to 99.1%, indicating extensive variability in the ability of the human feto-placental unit to glucuronidate BPA.