Higher Bisphenol A Concentrations Research Articles

Twenty bisphenol analogues in take-out polystyrene-made food containers: concentration levels, simulated migration, and risk evaluation.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is mainly used to produce polycarbonate consumer products. However, the occurrence of BPA and other bisphenol analogues (BPs) in polystyrene-made plastic products, such as white foam take-out containers (WFTOCs), has not been well investigated. In this study, occurrence of 20 BPs in WFTOC samples collected from China, Canada, and Poland were investigated with a sample size of 152. Results showed that 11 out of 20 BPs have been detected at least in one WFTOC sample. Among them, BPA was the most frequently detected BP, followed by bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol AF, while BPF was the least detected BP. Very high concentrations of BPA and BPS were detected in WFTOCs from China (mean 2694 and 552ng/g), compared with Canada (81 and 45ng/g, respectively) and Poland (95 and 16ng/g). Other BPs, such as bisphenol TMC (BPTMC; detection frequency 65%, range < LOQ - 224ng/g), bisphenol G (17%, < LOQ - 11ng/g), and bisphenol BP (11%, < LOQ - 1.6ng/g), were also detected in Chinese WFTOC samples. The mean partitioning coefficients of BPA, BPS, bisphenol AP, and BPTMC between WFTOCs and tap water, 10% ethanol, 50% ethanol, corn oil, or steamed rice were 0.22 - 2.9%, 0.16 - 5.1%, 0.11 - 7.5%, 2.3 - 6.5%, or 0.19 - 0.36%, respectively. The estimated daily intake of BPA, BPS, and BPTMC through using WFTOCs were 0.50 - 547, 0.054 - 229, and < 0.66ng/kg bw/day, respectively, for general population in China, Canada, and Poland. Overall, this study first reveals the unexpected presence of BPs in WFTOCs made of polystyrene, which contributes to the better understanding of the sources of human exposure to BPs.

Human body burden of bisphenol A: a case study of lactating mothers in Florianopolis, Brazil.

Exclusive breast milk is the diet recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) until 6months of age. However, breastfeeding has the potential of transferring certain toxic chemicals from the mother to the infant. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a synthetic chemical used as a monomer in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. Information on BPA concentration in the breast milk of lactating mothers is very limited; thus, this study aimed to determine the concentration of BPA in the colostrum of 64 post-partum women at a university-affiliated tertiary hospital in South Brazil. The results showed that all the breast milk samples contained a high concentration of BPA with a median value of 34.18ng/mL. Furthermore, the concentration of BPA in mothers was influenced by the consumption of foods packaged in plastic packaging, especially when the plastic is heated (p = 0.0182). The total daily intake of BPA in breastfed infants was 19.5µg/kg/day and 28.5µg/kg/day was recorded at the 95th percentile of body weight per day, which is higher than the maximum daily intake estimated by the European Authority of Food Safety. These data showed a high concentration of BPA in the breastmilk of the lactating mothers which might be through the use of plastic containers as food/drink packages. This is of public health importance as the high concentration of BPA in their breast milk can be an indicator of potentially serious health problems in these mothers and much more in the babies breastfed with BPA-contaminated breast milk.

Bisphenol-A incite dose-dependent dissimilitude in the growth pattern, physiology, oxidative status, and metabolite profile of Azolla filiculoides.

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a ubiquitous environmental pollutant affecting the growth and development of aquatic macrophytes. The present study was designed to evaluate the toxic effect of BPA on Azolla filiculoides. The plants were exposed to different concentrations of BPA and the effect was evaluated in terms of plant growth, physiological and oxidative status, responses of the antioxidative system, and changes in key metabolites. The results have shown that BPA (≥ 20mg L-1) incites a significant reduction in frond number, frond surface area, and growth rate of the plants along with severe frond damage, membrane peroxidation, and electrolyte leakage. Moreover, at higher concentrations, a significant reduction in the content of chlorophylls and carotenoids was observed, which was further amplified with the duration of treatments. Furthermore, excessive generation of O2•- and H2O2 invoked the antioxidative machinery under BPA exposure. However, sufficient activity of the antioxidative enzymes was observed in plants treated with ≤ 10mg L-1 of BPA. The untargeted metabolome profile revealed modulation of 29 metabolites including amino acids, sugar alcohols, organic acids, and phenolics in response to BPA. An increased amount of asparagine, lysine, serine, tryptophan, tyrosine, and valine after 3days of BPA exposure indicates their role in providing better stress tolerance. Therefore, the experimental findings suggest that A. filiculoides responds differently to BPA exposure. Higher BPA concentrations (≥ 20mg L-1) documented a greater impact in terms of plant physiology and metabolism whereas, the effect was minimal at lower concentrations (≤ 10mg L-1).

Phytoremediation potential, antioxidant response, photosynthetic behavior and rhizosphere bacterial community adaptation of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) in a bisphenol A-contaminated soil.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an emerging organic pollutant, widely distributed and frequently detected in soil in recent years. BPA toxicity is a problem that needs to be solved in terms of both human health and agricultural production. Up to now, the toxic effect of BPA and its mechanism of action on plants, as well as the possibility of using plants to remediate BPA-contaminated soil, remain to be explored. In this study, six treatment groups were set up to evaluate the effects of different concentrations of BPA on the germination and growth of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) by medium experiments. Furthermore, the representative indexes of photosynthetic and antioxidant system were determined. Meanwhile, tobacco seedlings were cultivated in soil to further explore the effects of BPA on rhizosphere soil enzyme activity and bacterial community structure with or without 100mg/kg BPA exposure. The enhancement of BPA removal efficiency from soil by phytoremediation using tobacco plants would also be estimated. Our results showed that high doses of BPA in solid medium remarkably inhibited tobacco seedling growth, and its toxicology effect was positively correlated with BPA concentration, while lower BPA exposure (< 20mg/L) had little limitation on tobacco growth and induced hormesis effect, which was reflected mainly in the increase of root length. In pot experiments, the reducing of chlorophyll content (36.4%) and net photosynthetic rate (41.2%) meant the inhibition of tobacco photosynthetic process due to high concentration of BPA exposure (100mg/kg) in soil. The increase of H2O2 and O2- content suggested that BPA could destroy the balance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in plants. However, tobacco plants still presented a high removal efficiency of BPA at the concentration of 100mg/kg in soil, which could reach to 80% within 30days. Furthermore, it was indicated that tobacco cultivation changed the structure of rhizosphere soil bacterial communities and the relative abundance of some valuable strains, including Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria and other strains, which might be participated in the BPA removal process. In addition, the tobacco-soil microbial system had the potential to reverse the negative effects caused by BPA through stimulating microorganism associated with soil nutrient cycling. In summary, tobacco is a competitive plant in phytoremediation of BPA-contaminated soil, though the growth of tobacco could be inhibited at high concentration of BPA. Moreover, tobacco might promote the removal efficiency of BPA by regulating the rhizosphere bacteria communities.

P-067 Correlation between Zn/Cu ratio and Bisphenol A in seminal plasma in men with varicocele

Abstract Study question Is there a relationship between concentration of Bisphenol A (BPA), Zn contents and Zn/Cu ratio in seminal fluid and spermiogram parameters in men with varicocele? Summary answer Our results document correlations between BPA, Zn/Cu and sperm motility. We found that the negative effect of BPA can be attenuated by higher Zn/Cu levels. What is known already A range of environmental factors including organic endocrine disruptors affects spermatogenesis. Bisphenols are endocrine disruptors often used in production of plastics. BPA is an endocrine disruptor with negative effects on reproduction. Presence of BPA also induces production of reactive oxygen species with negative impact on spermatogenesis. Zinc and copper are trace elements important for human spermatogenesis. Zn and especially the ratio of Zn/Cu are good parameters of the antioxidant potential of seminal plasma. The relationship between BPA levels, Zn concentration and Zn/Cu ratio with human sperm parameters is still unclear. Study design, size, duration In this study, we evaluated correlation between BPA concentration, Zn concentration and ratio of Zn/Cu in seminal plasma in relation to sperm concentration, number of spermatozoa, total motility, progressive motility, morphology and DNA fragmentation. A total of 123 nonsmoking patients aged 18 - 45 (average 28) years with varicocele were included in this prospective study from 2019 to 2021. Participants/materials, setting, methods All the men signed an informed consent and agreed with analyses. Ethical Committee of University Hospital Brno approved analyses. Seminal plasma was collected after centrifugation. BPA was determined by the LC-MS/MS method (liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry). The concentrations of Zn and Cu were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (Agilent 8900 ICP-MS/MS). Statistical evaluation was performed using Spearmen test (p = 0.05). The relationship between parameters was expressed by Spearman's correlation coefficient (ρ). Main results and the role of chance Analytical examination of seminal fluids detected presence of BPA in 89 samples (72.3 % of all samples analysed with average value 0.1627 ng/ml). In 18 samples, the concentration was under the level of detection and in 16 samples under the level of quantification. Zn was detected in all 123 patients with average concentration 139.44 µg/ml. The Zn/Cu ratio was calculated with average value 1.73. Subsequently, individual parameters of spermiogram plus DNA integrity were assessed. In case of BPA, negative correlations were found between BPA concentration and total motility (p = 0.010) and progressive motility (p = 0.012). Similarly, positive significant correlations between Zn/Cu ratio and total motility (p = 0.032) and progressive motility (p = 0.028) were found. For Zn concentration, we found positive non-significant correlation with total motility (p = 0.144) or progressive motility (p = 0.147). There were non-significant correlations between the BPA, Zn/Cu ratio or Zn and other parameters. Similarly, for BPA and Zn/Cu ratio a non-significant positive correlation was found (p = 0.157) and neither significant correlation was found between BPA and Zn (p = 0.452). In several cases we observed normal progressive and total motility in patients with high BPA concentrations together with high Zn/Cu ratio which probably has a protecting effect from the high BPA levels. Limitations, reasons for caution A limitation for this study is the final number of patients analysed in this study, which slightly reduced the power of statistical analysis. Currently, more analyses focused on detection of BPA in seminal plasma are being carried out in order to obtain sufficiently larger data set. Wider implications of the findings In this study, BPA was detected in 72 % of analysed samples. Our first results indicate a higher sensitivity of spermatozoa to BPA presence in seminal fluid, affecting mainly their motility. Interestingly, a higher Zn/Cu ratio is potent to reduce partially the negative impact of BPA on human spermatozoa. Trial registration number Supported by Czech Health Research Council (NV18-01-00544 and NV18-08-00291) and MH CZ – DRO (FNBr, 65269705). Jana Navratilova was supported by the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (CZ.02.2.69/0.0/0.0/19_074/0012727). Authors also thanks to Research Infrastructure RECETOX RI (No LM2018121) financed by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, and Operational Programme Research, Development and Innovation - project CETOCOEN EXCELLENCE (No CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/17_043/0009632) for supportive background.

A comparative proteomics study of Arabidopsis thaliana responding to the coexistence of BPA and TiO2-NPs at environmentally relevant concentrations

Through the applications of recycling sewage sludge to soils as nutrients, bisphenol A (BPA) and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs) are commonly found in the agricultural environment. Previous studies have reported that BPA and nanoparticles are harmful to the environment. However, the combined toxicity of both compounds is not yet understood. This work presented an in-depth proteomic analysis of Arabidopsis thaliana exposed to BPA and TiO2-NPs concurrently at environmentally relevant levels. Seeds were simultaneously treated with varying concentrations of BPA (0, 10, 100, and 1000 µg·kg−1) and TiO2-NPs (0, 1, 10 and 100 mg·kg−1). In treatment of 1000 µg·kg−1 BPA and 100 mg·kg−1 TiO2-NPs, highest seed germination rate (87.97%, p < 0.05) was observed. Shorter primary roots but more branched roots were obtained in treatments of high BPA and NPs concentrations (100, 1000 µg·kg−1 BPA and 10, 100 mg·kg−1 TiO2-NPs) while no significant effects on plant height and biomass were found. In the comparative analysis, both concentration related positive and negative effects were observed, such as regulation of cell proliferation (positive), root hair elongation (positive), cellular response to oxidative stress (negative), and cell wall organization (negative). In response to the stress caused by BPA and TiO2-NPs, some proteins related to plant root development, such as CD48E, DNAJ2 and GL24, were up-regulated explaining the shorter primary root length and more branched roots. Moreover, Arabidopsis may have stimulated its ability of resource transportation and energy metabolism to overcome the stress and maintain or somehow enhance their growth by up-regulating proteins like TBB6, CALM1, RAA2A, G3PP2 and KASC1. Our comparative proteomics analysis also highlighted multiple biological processes that consequently lead to the stability of plant growth and its stress adaptation. The results demonstrated that applying biosolids to soil as a fertilizer may be considered as a sustainable practice.

Effects of bisphenol A exposure on proteins tyrosine phosphorylation in mammalian sperm

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a synthetic estrogen compound, which widely exists in the environment, interferes with mammalian endocrine and affects the function of reproductive system of males. Taking fresh sperm of boar, 17 ℃ preservation boar sperm, and mouse sperm as test materials, we examined the effects of BPA (0, 0.1,1,10,100 μmol∙L-1) on proteins tyrosine phosphorylation in sperm and the molecular mechanism by using wes-tern blot (WB) and immunofluorescence techniques coupled to in vitro culture method. The results showed that low BPA concentration (0.1, 1 μmol∙L-1) markedly accelerated the protein tyrosine phosphorylation of fresh boar capacitated sperm. However, the tyrosine phosphorylation of boar sperm decreased in high BPA concentration (10, 100 μmol∙L-1). The tyrosine phosphorylation of the mouse sperm raised with the increases of BPA concentration. Moreover, BPA affected different kinds of proteins related to tyrosine phosphorylation modification of porcine and mouse sperm capacitation, suggesting that the effect of BPA exposure on mammalian sperm was species-specific. Furthermore, the results of immunofluorescence showed that the effects of BPA on protein tyrosine phosphorylation in sperm mainly occurred in the middle and principal piece of flagellum.

Polycarbonate plastic monomer (bisphenol-A) as emerging contaminant in Nigeria: Levels in selected rivers, sediments, well waters and dumpsites

Despite decades of research into the environmental fate and levels of the endocrine-disrupting polycarbonate Plastic monomer, bisphenol-A (BPA), data remain scarce from many developing countries. Here, occurrence and levels of BPA were investigated in water and sediments of three rivers, selected dumpsites and well waters in Ondo State, Southwestern Nigeria. The study also investigated the influence of matrix physicochemical characteristics on their BPA retention. BPA values ranged from 0.41–5.19 μg/L in river waters, 0.64–10.6 μg/kg in river sediments, 0.63–0.68 μg/L in well waters and 0.72–1.09 μg/kg in waste dumpsites. BPA concentrations in the river waters showed a strong association with chemical oxygen demand (COD) values. High BPA concentrations were also found associated with high chloride contents of drinking well waters. Detection in river and well waters revealed exposure routes of humans, cattle and aquatic species to BPA in the region.

Zinc Homeostasis, Reactive Oxygen Species Imbalance and Bisphenol-A Exposure in the Preimplantation Mouse Embryo: a possible adverse outcome pathway

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a ubiquitous xenoestrogen found in plastic products used for food containers, paper products, water pipes, etc. Individuals exposed to BPA are susceptible to detrimental effects; with poor oocyte quality, sperm motility, and impaired embryo implantation observed in mouse models at levels as low as 100 µg/kg/day. To investigate the mechanism through which BPA affects embryo development, oocytes were retrieved from 8-10-week-old mice and fertilized using IVF. The embryos were divided into 4 groups and exposed to increasing BPA concentrations (10 - 200 µM) for 18 hours, then were graded daily based on morphological appearance and development. A subgroup of the treated embryos (n = 10/group) were further evaluated for induction of apoptosis, overproduction of ROS, and zinc depletion. Mouse oocytes were treated with BPA (up to 300 µΜ), then, using RT-PCR, we preformed gene expression studies for AZGP1, an important gene in zinc homeostasis. Cultured day 5 mouse embryos that were exposed to BPA concentrations > 50 µM had fewer progressions to blastocysts, lower blastocyst grades, and more were arrested as compared to controls (p<0.05). Enhancement of ROS production and increased apoptosis associated with zinc depletion were evident in embryos treated with increasing concentrations of BPA (p<0.05). Gene expression studies showed downregulation of the AZGP1 gene in oocytes exposed to high BPA concentrations (p<0.01). This work may help women experiencing infertility that were exposed to high levels of BPA, as well as women suffering from diseases associated with zinc deficiency.

Determination of bisphenol A traces in water samples from the Vrbas River and its tributaries, Bosnia and Herzegovina

The bisphenol A (BPA) concentration was determined in 12 surface water samples of the Vrbas River and its five tributaries. The samples were taken in the area that belongs to the city of Banja Luka (Bosnia and Herzegovina). BPA was isolated using micro liquid?liquid extraction followed by derivatization and gas chromatography?mass spectrometry analysis (GC?MS). Silylation was used as a derivatization method to increase volatility and allow the GC?MS determination of BPA. The limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ), obtained by validating the procedure, were determined at 4 and 10 ng L-1, respectively. The concentrations of BPA were ranged between 33 and 354 ng L-1, and all were above the LOQ value. The lowest amount of BPA was found in the sample collected in the river Vrbas, near Svrakava estuary upstream from the city of Banja Luka. The highest concentration of BPA was recorded at the confluence of the Crkvena and Vrbas rivers, which is located in the city center. This study shows that population and human activity could affect the level of BPA in the environment.

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals used as common plastic additives: Levels, profiles, and human dietary exposure from the Indian food basket

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) such as phthalic acid esters (PAEs) and bisphenol A (BPA) are the most widely used plastic additives in polymeric materials. These EDCs are ubiquitously distributed in the environment. Hence selected PAEs and BPA were investigated in twenty-five food types and drinking water (supply and packaged) from the metropolitan city, Delhi, and the peri-urban areas of a non-metropolitan city, Dehradun. Except cabbage and orange, the sum of thirteen PAEs (∑13PAEs) and BPA in all the other food types were significantly higher in Delhi over Dehradun (p < 0.01). Highest mean ∑13PAEs (665 ng/g) and BPA (73 ng/g) were observed in cottage cheese and potatoes, respectively followed by fish (PAEs - 477 ng/g, BPA - 16 ng/g). Supply water from the west zone of Delhi was found to contain the highest concentration of BPA (309 ng/L) and ∑13PAEs (5765 ng/L) with the dominance of diethyl phthalate (DEP). Based on the compositional profile and compound-wise principal component analysis, environmental contamination and food processing were attributed as significant sources of most priority PAEs in food samples. Di-ethyl hexyl phthalate (DEHP) was over 100-fold higher in the bottled water from local brands than composite bottled water samples. Packaging material was identified as a source for di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP) in packaged food. This study observed the highest estimated daily dietary intake (EDI) in the high-fat-containing food products viz., cottage cheese, and fish from north Delhi. High bioaccumulation of BPA can be a possible reason for elevated EDI in vegetables and local fish of Delhi. Unlike Dehradun, EDI for ∑13PAEs and BPA was slightly higher for the non-vegetarian adult when compared to the vegetarian adult. DEHP and DnBP exhibited the highest estimated estrogenic potential for bottled water from local brands. Dietary exposure due to six priority PAEs contamination in food stuffs was two to four-fold higher in Delhi than Dehradun for adult man and woman.

Contamination level of Bisphenol A in surface waterfrom urban rivers and lakes of Hanoi city

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a precursor chemical to produce polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins that have been widely used in the world with many essential daily applications. BPA is considered one of the endocrine-disrupting chemicals in animals, which causes harmful effects on health. Besides, BPA originates from resins and consumer products after use has been released into the environment. To assess the contamination level of BPA in surface water, this study collected and analysed water samples from rivers and lakes in the centre of Hanoi. The average concentration of BPA in 45 surface water samples was 76.8 ng/l (6.6-284 ng/l). The highest concentration of BPA was found at the surrounding area of the wastewater treatment plant in Yen So (177 ng/l), followed by the Yen So lake (86.9 ng/l), To Lich and Nhue rivers (~80 ng/l), Lu, Set, Kim Nguu rivers (~60 ng/l) and the lowest level in West Lake (20.1 ng/l). The BPA levels in surface water were much lower than the predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) which is used to assess the environmental risk to protect the aquatic organism from the European Union.

Microporous metal-organic frameworks against endocrine-disruptor bisphenol A: parametric evaluation and optimization

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have received great attention in a recent material sciences revolution. The present study was conducted to investigate the performance of two different synthesized MOFs for adsorption of a common synthetic endocrine-disrupter Bisphenol A (BPA) from the aquatic system. Highly crystalline MIL-53 and MOF (Ni) were synthesized with an specific surface area (SSA) of 11.39 m 2 /g and 21.71 m 2 /g, respectively. The adsorption efficacy of MIL-53 was about 8 times more than MOF (Ni). The effects of various operating parameters (i.e., pH, MOF dose, BPA concentration, and agitation time) for removal of bisphenol A (BPA) were investigated. BPA removal affected by study variables in the order of MOF dose > pH > BPA concentration > agitation time. In comparison with two-parameters models, three-parametric isotherm models showed a better description for BPA equilibrium data. Exploration of adsorption mechanism was supported by monolayer BPA adsorption theory. Adsorption was also favored at high BPA concentration and at room temperature. The maximum capacity (Q max = 88.6 mg/g) of MIL-53 for adsorption of BPA was in a good match with the previous studies in which varieties of MOFs-based sorbents were applied. The current study showed promising results for the adsorption of BPA using MIL-53.

Dietary quality and bisphenols: trends in bisphenol A, F, and S exposure in relation to the Healthy Eating Index using representative data from the NHANES 2007–2016

Given policy regulations restricting bisphenol A (BPA) in food-related products, and consumer concerns about adverse health effects, newer bisphenols such as bisphenol F (BPF) and bisphenol S (BPS) have been developed. Exposure to BPA has been linked to dietary behaviors and poor health outcomes. We sought to examine how the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) and its 13 subgroups, the healthy American diet, the Mediterranean diet, the vegetarian diet, and other dietary quality behaviors are related to BPA and the newer substitutes in a representative sample of US adults. Dietary intakes from the NHANES were used to determine dietary scores. Osmolality-adjusted urinary BPA (n=6418) and BPF and BPS (n=2520) concentrations were tested for their association with dietary intake in models that adjusted for sociodemographics. Compared with low scores, high scores for total HEI and the American, Mediterranean, and vegetarian diets were associated with lower odds of high BPA concentration (OR: 0.65, 0.60, 0.59, and 0.60, respectively). Of the HEI subgroups, lower BPA concentration was associated with high total fruit (OR: 0.61; 99.95% CI: 0.42, 0.89), whole fruit (OR: 0.59; 99.95% CI: 0.41, 0.86), and whole grain (OR: 0.68; 99.95% CI: 0.40, 0.94) intake, when compared with low intakes. Compared with low intakes, high intakes of plain and tap water were associated with lower odds of high BPA concentration (OR: 0.65; 99.95% CI: 0.47, 0.91 and OR: 0.70; 99.95% CI: 0.50, 0.99, respectively). A perception of high, compared with low, dietary quality was also associated with lower odds of high BPA concentration (OR: 0.72; 99.95% CI: 0.53, 0.98). Healthier dietary quality and several HEI subgroups were related to lower urinary BPA concentrations; no significant (P≤0.0005) findings were observed for BPF and BPS. The association between bisphenol substitutes and dietary quality should continue to be monitored as bisphenol substitutes continue to increase in the food system.

Bisphenol a Exposure and Kidney Diseases: Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis, and NHANES 03-16 Study.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a compound that is especially widespread in most commonly used objects due to its multiple uses in the plastic industry. However, several data support the need to restrict its use. In recent years, new implications of BPA on the renal system have been discovered, which denotes the need to expand studies in patients. To this end, a systematic review and a meta-analysis was performed to explore existing literature that examines the BPA-kidney disease paradigm and to determine what and how future studies will need to be carried out. Our systematic review revealed that only few relevant publications have focused on the problem. However, the subsequent meta-analysis revealed that high blood concentrations of BPA could be a factor in developing kidney disease, at least in people with previous pathologies such as diabetes or hypertension. Furthermore, BPA could also represent a risk factor in healthy people whose urinary excretion is higher. Finally, the data analyzed from the NHANES 03-16 cohort provided new evidence on the possible involvement of BPA in kidney disease. Therefore, our results underline the need to carry out a thorough and methodologically homogeneous study, delving into the relationship between urinary and blood BPA, glomerular filtration rate, and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio, preferably in population groups at risk, and subsequently in the general population, to solve this relevant conundrum with critical potential implications in Public Health.

Association of maternal exposure to bisphenol A with her β-hCG level and neonatal anthropometric measures.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is one of the organic compounds that might interfere with estrogenic receptors, which would make difficulties in pregnancy hormones and fetal growth. Human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) is one of the important pregnancy hormones that might be affected by environmental pollutants. The aim of this study is to investigate the probable impacts of maternal exposure to BPA on anthropometric measures of newborns. This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2019-2020 in Isfahan, Iran. During the first trimester of pregnancy, we measured the urinary BPA concentration and serum β-hCG level of 120 pregnant women, who were randomly selected from participants of a birth cohort. BPA concentration was measured using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Serum blood sample was derived and used for β-hCG analysis. Anthropometric measurement of neonates was conducted at the time of birth. BPA and β-hCG level were grouped by quartiles, and their associations with birth weight, height, and head circumference were tested using multiple linear regression model. The adjustment was done for urine creatinine, gender, and gestational age, as well as maternal age, body mass index, and education level. Data of 119 pairs of mothers and infants were available for the present study. The mean (SD) age of mothers was 29.19 (5.75) years; 56.3% of newborns were boys. Geometric mean of urinary BPA and β-hCG concentrations were 0.36 ng/g crea. (creatinine) and 17736 mIU/ml, respectively. Across the BPA tertiles, the differences in mean values were not significant for none of the anthropometric measurements and gestational age (GA). Furthermore, no significant association existed between unadjusted and adjusted tertiles of BPA and β-hCG with abovementioned birth outcomes. It seems that the non-significant association found in this study is because of low levels of urinary BPA levels than in other studies; the adverse effects on infants might be related to high concentration of BPA passed from placenta. Future longitudinal studies with large sample size are necessary to document the adverse health effects of maternal exposure to endocrine disruptor chemicals including BPA.

Determination of bisphenol A in commercial cat food marketed in the Czech Republic.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is one of the most widely used synthetic compounds on the planet. It is used in the synthesis of polycarbonate plastics, epoxy resins and other polymer materials. Owing to its excellent chemical and physical properties, it is used to produce food and beverage containers or the linings for metal products. BPA has been mentioned as a possible cause of feline hyperthyroidism. Cat food is considered one of the main sources of BPA intake. The purpose of this study was to evaluate BPA concentration in various types of commercial cat food available in the Czech Republic. In total, 172 samples prepared from 86 different types of commercial cat food were assessed. The concentration of BPA was measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Measurable concentration of BPA was found in all samples (range 0.065-131 ng/g), with the highest concentration (mean ± SD) of BPA in canned food (24.6 ± 34.8 ng/g). When comparing BPA concentration in food trays (1.58 ± 0.974 ng/g), pouches (0.591 ± 0.592 ng/g) and dry food (1.18 ± 0.518 ng/g), concentrations of BPA in food trays and dry food were significantly higher (P <0.01) compared with pouches. Comparing BPA concentrations in canned food of different manufacturers, statistically significant differences were found as well. The highest concentrations of BPA were found in cans. Thus, cans represent the highest possibility of exposure to BPA in comparison with other types of commercial feline food.

Nanomagnets based on activated carbon/magnetite nanocomposite for determination of endocrine disruptors in environmental water samples

Endocrine disruptors (EDs) have been defined as exogenous compounds that alter the endocrine system's normal functioning. These micropollutants have the potential of entering water bodies, becoming an environmental issue of increasing concern. Since EDs occur at very low concentrations (μg L-1 to ng L-1), efficient extraction and clean-up steps are required before their detection. Thus, a magnetic nanosorbent was synthesized in this work by modification of powder activated carbon with magnetite nanoparticles (AC/Fe3O4). The nanosorbent was applied in magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) of bisphenol A (BPA) and 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) in environmental water samples, prior to determination by HPLC-UV. The composite was characterized by X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), spectroscopy electron microscopy, Mössbauer spectroscopy, Brunauer-Emmet-Teller analysis, and zeta potential measurements. TGA data showed that decomposition of the carbon structure in the composite (AC/Fe3O4) occurs at 400–550 °C, corresponding to 25% of the sample content. The magnetite corresponds to 59% of residual mass, and the synthesized magnetic adsorbent showed a specific surface area approximately 8 times greater when compared to pure activated carbon. The pHpzc obtained for AC/Fe3O4 was 5.18. Properties of the composite such as high specific surface area and paramagnetism resulted in an efficient adsorbent that provided a good recovery for both EDs investigated (80.91% for BPA and 56.72% for EE2). After optimizing MSPE conditions, the established adsorption/desorption time was 60 s; the adopted elution solvent was metanol:acetonitrile (50: 50% v/v), with a volume of 750 µL. Other optimum conditions obtained were: 20 mg of nanosorbent and sample volume of 750 μL at pH 10.5. The analytical method has a linear range from 0.08 to 5.0 µg mL−1 for both analytes, with correlation coefficients equal to 0.9973 and 0.9996 for BPA and EE2, respectively. The limit of detection and limit of quantification were 0.10 and 0.80 µg mL−1 respectively for both analytes. In addition, interday and intraday accuracy assays obtained relative standard deviation and relative error values below 15%. The method was successfully applied in the determination of BPA and EE2 in river water. High BPA and EE2 concentrations (0.418 ± 0.017 µg mL−1 and 1.330 ± 0.040 µg mL−1 for BPA and EE2, respectively) were detected in the Lenheiro stream, which receives untreated domestic sewage. The main advantage of AC/Fe3O4 was the simplicity of the synthesis compared to other magnetic materials described in the literature, besides being economical, fast, and environmentally friendly, since waste-based carbonaceous materials can be used as a precursor to AC.

Prenatal Bisphenol A Exposure and Early Childhood Behavior and Cognitive Function: A Chinese Birth Cohort Study

Introduction: Biomonitoring of bisphenol A (BPA) in human blood is still scarce, although already noticeable. We aimed to examine the associations between prenatal serum BPA concentrations and behavior and cognitive function in preschool children. Methods: A total of 1,782 mother-child pairs with complete demographic information, blood samples, and psychological measurements were included from the China-Anhui Birth Cohort (C-ABCS). We detected serum BPA concentrations and assessed children’s neurodevelopment using a set of psychometric scales. Results: The median prenatal maternal serum BPA concentration was 0.23 (P25, P75: 0.07, 0.52) ng/mL, with a detection frequency of 85.19%. Compared with the girls with the lowest concentrations, those with highest BPA concentrations had increased risks of inhibitory self-control impairment [relative risk (RR) = 3.66, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.53, 7.58], emergent metacognition impairment (RR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.07, 2.78), conduct problem (RR = 1.68, 95% CI: 1.12, 2.39), peer relationship problem (RR = 2.57, 95% CI: 1.33, 4.47), higher total difficulties score (RR = 1.76, 95% CI: 1.12, 2.67), and higher impact factor score (RR = 1.52, 95% CI: 1.11, 2.05), while the boys with the highest prenatal BPA concentrations had an increased risk of conduct problem compared with those with the lowest concentrations (RR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.09, 2.24) (P-interaction = 0.011). After stratification by age, high prenatal BPA concentrations were associated with increased ADHD (RR = 4.44, 95% CI: 1.54, 10.85) among children aged 3 years, not among children aged 4 years. Conclusion: Our study revealed the sex-specific and age-specific impacts of prenatal BPA exposure on preschool children’s cognitive and behavioral development.

Potential risk of BPA and phthalates in commercial water bottles: a minireview

The global water bottling market grows annually. Today, to ensure consumer safety, it is important to verify the possible migration of compounds from bottles into the water contained in them. Potential health risks due to the prevalence of bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates (PAEs) exposure through water bottle consumption have become an important issue. BPA, benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) and di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) can cause adverse effects on human health. Papers of literature published in English, with BPA, BBP, DBP and DEHP detections during 2017, by 2019 by liquid chromatography and gas chromatography analysis methods were searched. The highest concentrations of BPA, BBP, DBP and DEHP in all the bottled waters studied were found to be 5.7, 12.11, 82.8 and 64.0 μg/L, respectively. DBP was the most compound detected and the main contributor by bottled water consumption with 23.7% of the Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI). Based on the risk assessment, BPA, BBP, DBP and DEHP in commercial water bottles do not pose a serious concern for humans. The average estrogen equivalent level revealed that BPA, BBP, DBP and DEHP in bottled waters may induce adverse estrogenic effects on human health.