From cans and containers to amniotic fluid: bisphenol a exposure during pregnancy

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To compare maternal and fetal exposure to bisphenol A (BPA), a widely used, endocrine disrupting chemical that may adversely effect fetal development. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study of BPA levels in sera of women undergoing second-trimester abortions and corresponding amniotic fluid. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Maternal sera and amniotic fluid were collected from women seeking second-trimester abortion at San Francisco General Hospital. Sample concentrations of BPA were determined in sample extracts by high performance liquid chromatography with an ESA CoulArray 5600 detector (detection limit 0.25 ng/mL). BPA levels were compared using the Wilcoxon signed rank test. RESULTS: Unconjugated (biologically active) BPA levels were statistically significantly higher in amniotic fluid than in maternal sera (p=0.05). Levels of total BPA were higher in amniotic fluid in 7 of the 9 samples but this difference was not significant (p=0.17) in this small sample.Tabled 1BPA Concentrations (ng/mL) in Maternal Sera (MS) and Amniotic Fluid (AF)Total∗Total=unconjugated+conjugated BPAConjugatedUnconjugatedIDMSAFMSAFMSAFratio117.625.14.23.313.421.81.621.22.30.52.10.70.20.2350.916.949.30.31.616.510.247.321.76.14.51.217.213.952.011.61.11.00.810.612.863.55.13.14.90.30.20.571.019.60.89.60.210.140.981.125.00.93.10.221.988.099.17.80.52.08.55.80.7median3.59.41.23.10.89.011.3∗ Total=unconjugated+conjugated BPA Open table in a new tab CONCLUSIONS: Our findings of increased total BPA in the majority of amniotic fluid samples, which continuously circulates through the fetus, and statistically higher unconjugated BPA levels suggest accumulation in the fetal environment that may lead to clinically-relevant effects on development. Increased unconjugated BPA in amniotic fluid is consistent with decreased fetal capacity to metabolize BPA.