Occurrence of Bisphenol A and its analogues in some foodstuff marketed in Europe

Patterns of environmental exposure to phenols in couples who plan to become pregnant

Phenols are widely used in consumer products and known for their reproductive toxicities. Little is known regarding the environmental exposure to phenols in couples prior to conception, a key period affecting fertility. We measured the urinary concentrations of six parabens and seven bisphenols in 903 pre-conception couples in China. We investigated the occurrence, distribution, source and health risk of phenols in husbands and wives separately, and the correlation and difference in phenol concentrations between couples. Similar distribution profiles of urinary phenols were observed between females and males. Methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate (MeP) and bisphenol A (BPA) were the predominant compounds. The level of urinary phenols in our population was mostly lower than the global levels. Exposure to phenols was linked to processed food and personal care products. The correlations between phenols in males and females were moderate (0.218-0.686), while the correlation in phenols between husband and wife was low (0.009-0.215). Female had a significantly higher urinary phenol levels than male (P < 0.05). Urinary phenols in couples were associated with family income, type of drinking water and frequency of household cleaning. Household factors accounted for ≤1.5% of variance in phenol levels between couples, suggesting that individual variations may be the major factor. Risk assessment showed that exposure to phenols posed a low hazard to 17.5% of the couples in our population. Our findings provide important evidence of environmental exposure to phenols in couples of child-bearing age.

Influence of Temperature on the Quantity of Bisphenol A in Bottled Drinking Water

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a component used in the production of polycarbonate plastics (PC) and epoxy resins, which are currently widely used in food and beverage packaging. Although BPA is not used in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) manufacturing, a recent study reported its presence in PET water bottles. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of storage conditions on the release of BPA from PET bottles as well as to assess health risks associated with the consumption of bottled water. Using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), we measured the content of BPA in local brands of plastic bottled water sold in the Polish market. It has been established that temperature is one of the main factors that influences the migration of bisphenol A to products, as was confirmed by determination of the amount of bisphenol A in water, which was carried out without exposing the bottles to different temperatures. Despite the fact that the individual concentrations of BPA in bottled water were low (ng/L) at 0.6 mg/kg (body weight), the cumulative daily dose in the body may be much higher than the quoted concentrations due to the number of products containing BPA. Thus, prolonged usage of bottled water and beverages should be avoided to reduce the risk of human exposure to BPA through leaching. Additionally, it was found that high temperatures resulted in increased BPA leaching.

Concentrations of bisphenol a (BPA) in fresh pork loin meat under standard stock-farming conditions and after oral exposure - A preliminary study

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a substance commonly used in the production of plastics. It may be leached from plastics, penetrate to food and has multidirectional negative effects on living organisms. The aim of this study was to evaluate BPA levels in fresh pork meat collected immediately after the death of animals kept in standard stock-farming conditions, as well as from animals receiving various oral doses of BPA (0.05 mg/kg body weight (b.w.)/day and 0.5 mg/kg b. w./day). In animals kept in standard conditions, the average concentration of BPA in loin meat amounted to 37.03 ± 6.18 ng/g dry weight (d.w.). In animals receiving lower and higher doses of BPA, this value achieved 47.44 ± 4.39 ng/g d. w. and 214.30 ± 66.73 ng/g d. w, respectively. The results show that pork meat may be a source of BPA in human food and the presence of BPA in the meat may result from the exposure of animals over their lifetime. This observation shows that the elimination of BPA from the production of items used for animal husbandry and animal feed may reduce meat contaminated with this substance and, therefore, increase consumer safety.

Association between dietary exposure to bisphenols and body mass index in Spanish schoolchildren

The increase in children obesity worldwide has been of particular concern in recent decades. Environmental factors have been proposed as contributors to obesity, and there is a growing concern over obesogens, environmental chemicals with potential obesity‐related endocrine‐disrupting properties. In this regard, bisphenol A (BPA) and its analogues are suspected to have obesogenic properties. Current document report on the activities of the fellow, undertaken during the fourth, 2020–2021 cycle of the EU‐FORA programme at the University of Granada, Institute of Nutrition and Food Science, in Spain. The work programme offered by the hosting site was related to the extrapolation of bisphenols exposure following the determination of these compounds in food frequently consumed by children and in their biological samples. The fellow has participated in the recruitment of the study population in the health centres. In addition, she has participated in the collection of the children biological samples, anthropometric measurements and dietary surveys and in the optimisation of the laboratory methodology for the extraction of bisphenols in biological samples. All these activities also provided the fellow an opportunity to develop her data science related skills, which will benefit her professional development. In addition, the fellow gained an overview of various topics related to food safety risk assessment by attending the EU‐FORA dedicated training modules.

Killing two birds with one stone: Pregnancy is a sensitive window for endocrine effects on both the mother and the fetus

Pregnancy is a complex process requiring tremendous physiological changes in the mother in order to fulfill the needs of the growing fetus, and to give birth, expel the placenta and nurse the newborn. These physiological modifications are accompanied with psychological changes, as well as with variations in habits and behaviors. As a result, this period of life is considered as a sensitive window as impaired functional and physiological changes in the mother can have short- and long-term impacts on her health. In addition, dysregulation of the placenta and of mechanisms governing placentation have been linked to chronic diseases later-on in life for the fetus, in a concept known as the Developmental Origin of Health and Diseases (DOHaD). This concept stipulates that any change in the environment during the pre-conception and perinatal (in utero life and neonatal) period to puberty, can be "imprinted" in the organism, thereby impacting the health and risk of chronic diseases later in life. Pregnancy is a succession of events that is regulated, in large part, by hormones and growth factors. Therefore, small changes in hormonal balance can have important effects on both the mother and the developing fetus. An increasing number of studies demonstrate that exposure to endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) affect both the mother and the fetus giving rise to growing concerns surrounding these exposures. This review will give an overview of changes that happen during pregnancy with respect to the mother, the placenta, and the fetus, and of the current literature regarding the effects of EDCs during this specific sensitive window of exposure.

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

OBJECTIVES

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.

METHODS

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.

RESULTS

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.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

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.

Development of a high-performance liquid chromatography method to assess bisphenol F levels in milk

Bisphenol F (BPF) is a bisphenol A (BPA) analogue. As an endocrine disruptor, BPF shows a similar BPA hormonal activity and greater endocrine effects. To assess BPF levels in milk a selective method based on solvent extraction with acetonitrile, solid-phase extraction (SPE), high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FD) system, was developed. The method showed high recovery values (from 97.60 to 107.16%), and good detection and quantification limits (LOD=0.03 μg/L; LOQ=0.1 μg/L). To validate the analytical method, quantitative analyses of n.20 milk samples of whole milk were preliminarily carried out applying a monitoring system based on the control of different stages of pasteurized whole milk processing at a dairy company. The proposed method is simple, sensitive, and might be suitable to detect BPF residues in milk processing. At the dairy company, the occurrence of BPF levels ranging from Collapse

Key Words

• Bisphenol F
• High-performance liquid chromatography method
• Milk

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MESH Headings Collapse

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Affiliation(s)

Serena Santonicola Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Molise, Campobasso
Maria Carmela Ferrante Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples, Italy
Giampaolo Colavita Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Molise, Campobasso
Raffaelina Mercogliano Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples, Italy

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Transcriptomic analysis reveals ligninolytic enzymes of white-rot fungus Phanerochaete sordida YK-624 participating in bisphenol F biodegradation under ligninolytic conditions

Bisphenol F (BPF) is widely used in the plastic manufacturing industry as a replacement for bisphenol A (BPA) because BPF and BPA have similar structures and comparable properties. However, BPF is ubiquitously present in the environment and has higher toxicity to humans. This study is the first to report BPF degradation using the white-rot fungus Phanerochaete sordida YK-624 under ligninolytic conditions (pH=4.5, 30 °C). P. sordida YK-624 almost completely degraded BPF within 4 days. Moreover, functional genes involved in BPF degradation were detected by RNA-Seq. Metabolic processes and peroxidases were enriched by GO analysis, and the metabolic pathway was enriched according to the KEGG pathway analysis. These results suggested that P. sordida YK-624 could secrete higher levels of ligninolytic enzymes lignin peroxidase (LiP) and manganese peroxidase (MnP) for BPF degradation. The results indicated that LiPs and MnPs are important for BPF degradation and cytochrome P450s play a small role. Furthermore, reliability of the RNA-Seq results was validated by qRT-PCR.

Investigation of the migration of bisphenols from baby bottles and sippy cups

Bisphenol A (BPA) is used as a monomer in a number of consumer products, including baby bottles and sippy cups. Some jurisdictions around the world (including Canada) have regulated the production, advertising or selling polycarbonate baby bottles with BPA. Following the ban, makers have opted for alternative materials to BPA [named BPA analogues, BPAAs], which may not be as safe as promoted. The objective of this project was to conduct a migration study in baby bottles and sippy cups, and analyze 16 BPAAs, as a follow-up on the BPA migration study conducted by Health Canada in 2009. Baby bottles (20 brands) and sippy cups (13 brands) were tested for migration of BPAAs. The most commonly detected analytes in baby bottles were BPS, BPA, BPF, BPAF, BPM and BPTMC with detection frequency (DF) of more than 50%. In sippy cups, only BPA, BPS and BPF were frequently detected. The mean concentration of BPA in baby bottle leachate was 31.5 ng/L in water simulant whereas a 1.4-fold increase was seen in 50% EtOH simulant. Similarly, a 1.4-fold increase was seen in the mean concentration of BPS in 50% EtOH simulant, when compared to the mean concentration of 2.33 ng/L in water simulant. Increasing median concentration was observed for BPA as the ethanol content of the simulant increased (water<10% EtOH<50% EtOH). The concentration of BPS and BPA was higher in sippy cups than that in their matched brand of baby bottles with the 50% EtOH simulant. Although most of the target analytes were detected in baby bottles, their concentrations were low and no migration was observed for any of the analytes with increasing incubation time. Therefore, it is likely that known BPA analogues are not present in the polymers used in the manufacture of most of the baby bottle brands sold in Canada.

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Sensitive and selective UPLC-MS/MS method was developed for simultaneous determination of 16 bisphenols.

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Migration study was conducted on baby bottles and sippy cups purchased on Canadian market.

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BPA and BPS were detected in all baby bottles and sippy cups.

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The study suggests that repeated use of the baby bottles will not increase the leaching of BPA analogues.

Proteomic profile of the effects of low-dose bisphenol A on zebrafish ovaries

Human exposure to bisphenol-A (BPA) is largely unavoidable because BPA is an environmental contaminant found in soil, water, food and indoor dust. The safety of authorized BPA amounts in consumer products is under question because new studies have reported adverse effects of BPA at doses far below that previously established by the NOAEL (50 μg/kg per day). To protect public health, the consequences of low-dose BPA exposure in different organs and organismal functions must be further studied to generate relevant data. This study attempted to investigate the effects and potential molecular mechanisms of short-term exposure to 1 μg/L BPA on zebrafish ovarian follicular development. We observed only minor changes at the histopathological level with a small (3 %) increase in follicular atresia. However, a shotgun proteomics approach indicated deep alterations in BPA-exposed ovarian cells, including induction of the oxidative stress response, metabolic shifts and degradome perturbations, which could drive oocytes towards premature maturation. Based on these results, it could be suggested that inadvertent exposure to small concentrations of BPA on a continuous basis causes alteration in biological processes that are essential for healthy reproduction.

Development and validation of an ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for twelve bisphenol compounds in animal feed

Bisphenol compounds (BPs) are a group of environmental contaminants with endocrine-disrupting effects both for humans and animals. The present work developed a sensitive analytical method for the detection of multiple BPs in the animal feed based on ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) with post-column ammonium hydroxide (NH₄OH) infusion. A modified QuEChERS method was incorporated into the extraction and purification processes. The limit of detection (LODs) and quantification (LOQs) for the target BPs were in the ranges of 0.02-0.75 μg kg^-1 and 0.04-0.95 μg kg^-1, respectively. Average recoveries were ranged between 82.6% and 112%. The proposed method was successfully applied to determine the concentrations of BPs in 20 actual feed samples, and the preliminary profiles of BPs in products from local feed factories were obtained. Each sample was simultaneously contaminated with at least 2 to 4 BPs, and bisphenol A (BPA) was the dominant analog of BPs found in animal feed.

Study on bisphenol F, a bisphenol A analogue, at a dairy company: Health hazard and risk assessment

The occurrence of analogues of bisphenol A (BPA), including bisphenol F(BPF) in milk is still not well known. BPF may enter the milk chain at the farm and during milk processing at the dairy company. This study identified the main BPF contamination pathways using a monitoring model based on the identification of the hazard at three stages along the dairy chain: raw milk from the storage tank, pasteurized milk from the storage tank, and cardboard packaged milk. Quantitative analysis was performed by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorometric detection (HPLC/FD) system. BPF was detected in all analysed stages (from <LOQ to 2.686 μg/L). The structural and toxicological similarity between BPF and BPA suggested considering both bisphenols for a more comprehensive risk evaluation. The daily intake of BPF and of the sum of BPF and BPA, and the worst-case scenario through the consumption of packaged milk were calculated. Exposure levels below the temporary daily intake, fixed for only BPA, were detected in all consumer age classes. Nevertheless, the use of BPA substitutes represents a risk to human health because of their potential synergic effects. The application of a monitoring program at each stage of milk processing at the dairy company may represent a useful strategy to ensure food safety in the milk chain.

Identification of synergistic and antagonistic actions of environmental pollutants: Bisphenols A, S and F in the presence of DEP, DBP, BADGE and BADGE·2HCl in three component mixtures

Ecosystems are facing increased pressure due to the emission of many classes of emerging contaminants. However, very little is known about the interactions of these pollutants, such as bisphenols (BPs), plasticizers or pharmaceuticals. By employing bioluminescent bacteria (Microtox assay), we were able to define interactions between selected emerging pollutants (namely BPA, BPS, BPF, BADGE, BADGE·2HCl, DEP, DBP) in ternary mixtures, at environmentally relevant concentration levels (down to as low as 1.89, 1.42, 3.08, and 0.326 μM for, respectively, BPA, BPF, BPS and BADGE·2HCl). We provide the first systematic analysis of bisphenols and phthalates in three component mixtures. Using this system, we performed toxicity modelling with concentration addition (CA) and independent action (IA) approaches, followed by data interpretation using Model Deviation Ratio (MDR) evaluation. Interestingly, we mathematically and experimentally confirmed a novel synergy between BPA, BADGE and BADGE·2HCl. The synergy of BPA, BADGE and BADGE·2HCl is distinct, with both models suggesting these analytes have a similar mode of action (MOA). Moreover, we unexpectedly found a strong antagonistic impact with DEP, in mixtures containing BPA and BADGE analogues, which is confirmed with both mathematical models. Our study also shows that the impact of BPS and BPF in many mixtures is highly concentration dependent, justifying the necessity to perform mixture studies using wide concentration ranges. Overall, this study demonstrates that bioluminescent bacteria are a relevant model for detecting the synergistic and antagonist actions of environmental pollutants in mixtures, and highlights the importance of analyzing combinations of pollutants in higher order mixtures.

Bisphenol F and bisphenol S promote lipid accumulation and adipogenesis in human adipose-derived stem cells

Bisphenol F (BPF) and bisphenol S (BPS) are increasingly used as substitutes for bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) with obesogenic activity. We investigated the in vitro effects of BPS and BPF on the adipogenesis of human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) exposed to different doses (0.01, 0.1, 1, 10 and 25 μM), stopping the adipogenic process at 7 or 14 days. Intracellular lipid accumulation was quantified by the Oil Red O assay, gene expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), CCAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBPα), lipoprotein-lipase (LPL) and fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4), by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and protein levels by Western Blot. hASCs with BPF or BPS produced a linear dose-response increase in intracellular lipid accumulation and in gene expression of the adipogenic markers, confirmed by protein levels. Co-treatment ICI 182,780 significantly inhibited BPF- but not BPS-induced lipid accumulation. Given the affinity of bisphenols for diverse nuclear receptors, their obesogenic effects may result from a combination of pathways rather than a single mechanism. Further research is warranted on the manner in which chemicals interfere with adipogenic differentiation. To our best knowledge, this report shows for the first time the obesogenic potential of BPF in hASCs.

Occurrence of bisphenol A in the milk chain: A monitoring model for risk assessment at a dairy company

Bisphenol A (BPA) as a chemical hazard may enter the milk chain during primary production at the farm and, successively, during milk processing at a dairy company. To identify the potential pathways that play a role in the occurrence of BPA, a monitoring model for risk assessment based on the identification of the hazards at each stage of milk processing was investigated. Milk samples were analyzed using liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. Quantifiable levels were detected in samples obtained from the raw milk storage tank, pasteurized milk from the storage tank, and packaged milk. The highest BPA contamination levels were detected in raw milk from the storage tank (mean 0.265 µg/L). Despite the fact that dietary exposure levels were below the temporary daily intake, BPA may have adverse effects, particularly for vulnerable population groups. New monitoring programs involving each stage of milk processing should therefore be applied.

Dietary Intake of Endocrine Disrupting Substances Presents in Environment and Their Impact on Thyroid Function

According to the available data, environmental pollution is a serious problem all over the world. Between 2015 and 2016, pollution was responsible for approximately nine million deaths worldwide. They also include endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that can interfere with the functioning of the thyroid gland. They are characterized by high persistence in the environment. These substances can enter the body through the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory system, as well as contact with the skin and overcome the placental barrier. EDC can be found in food, water, and personal care products. They can get into food from the environment and as a result of their migration to food products and cosmetics from packaging. EDCs can disrupt the functioning of the thyroid gland through a number of mechanisms, including disrupting the activation of thyroid receptors and the expression of genes that are related to the metabolism, synthesis, and transport of thyroid hormones (HT). There is a need to strengthen the food safety policy that aimed at the use of appropriate materials in direct contact with food. At the same time, an important action is to reduce the production of all waste and, when possible, use biodegradable packaging, which may contribute to the improvement of the quality of the entire ecosystem and the health of food, thus reducing the risk of developing thyroid diseases.

Serum bisphenol A analogues in women diagnosed with the polycystic ovary syndrome - is there an association?

Due to the endocrine disrupting effects of bisphenol A (BPA) several governmental authorities have banned its use and the manufacturers had to find alternative substances with similar chemical properties. This led to the increase in the use of so-called BPA analogues, which however also turn out to possess mild estrogenic and ani-androgenic properties and thus, may cause fertility problems and sex-hormone dependent endocrinopathies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential association between the exposure to BPA and its two analogues: BPS and BPF, with the diagnosis of the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which remains the most common female endocrinopathy. Serum concentrations of BPA, BPS and BPF were measured using high performance liquid chromatography method with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) among 199 women with PCOS and 158 control subjects. In women with PCOS serum BPS concentrations were significantly higher compared to the control subjects (geometric mean [95% CI]: 0.14 ng/mL [0.10; 1.17] vs. 0.08 ng/mL [0.06; 0.09], P = 0.023). Serum BPA and BPF concentrations did not differ between the studied groups. There was however a negative correlation between serum BPA and HOMA-IR (r = - 0.233, P = 0.001) and TST (r = - 0.203, P = 0.006) in women with PCOS. No correlations were found between the serum BPs and other metabolic parameters such as serum lipids, insulin, DHEA-S, androstenedione and FAI. When studying the association between serum BPA analogues and PCOS it turned out that women whose serum BPS concentrations were in the first tertile were more likely to be diagnosed with this endocrinopathy (OR [95% CI]: 1.21 [1.04; 3.46], P = 0.017). This association was also statistically significant when adjusted for age, education, BMI, smoking, income, and alcohol consumption (adjusted OR [95% CI]: 1.12 [1.03; 3.71], P = 0.029). These results point to the potential association between the exposure to BPS and the diagnosis of PCOS. The role of BPA is not clear and warrants further studies.

Determinants of exposure levels of bisphenols in flemish adolescents

The broadly used industrial chemical bisphenol A (BPA), applied in numerous consumer products, has been under scrutiny in the past 20 years due to its widespread detection in humans and the environment and potential detrimental effects on human health. Following implemented restrictions and phase-out initiatives, BPA is replaced by alternative bisphenols, which have not received the same amount of research attention. As a part of the fourth cycle of the Flemish Environment and Health Study (FLEHS IV, 2016-2020), we monitored the internal exposure to six bisphenols in urine samples of 423 adolescents (14-15 years old) from Flanders, Belgium. All measured bisphenols were detected in the study population, with BPA and its alternatives bisphenol F (BPF) and bisphenol S (BPS) showing detection frequencies > 50%. The reference values show that exposure to these compounds is extensive. However, the urinary BPA level decreased significantly in Flemish adolescents compared to a previous cycle of the FLEHS (2008-2009). This suggests that the replacement of BPA with its analogues is ongoing. Concentrations of bisphenols measured in the Flemish adolescents were generally in the same order of magnitude compared to recent studies worldwide. Multiple regression models were used to identify determinants of exposure based on information on demographic and lifestyle characteristics of participants, acquired through questionnaires. Some significant determinants could be identified: sex, season, smoking behavior, educational level of the parents, recent consumption of certain foods and use of certain products were found to be significantly associated with levels of bisphenols. Preliminary risk assessment showed that none of the estimated daily intakes (EDIs) of BPA exceeded the tolerable daily intake, even in a high exposure scenario. For alternative bisphenols, no health-based guidance values are available, but in line with the measured urinary levels, their EDIs were lower than that of BPA. This study is, to the best of our knowledge, the first to determine internal exposure levels of other bisphenols than BPA in a European adolescent population.

Comprehensive supramolecular solvent-based sample treatment platform for evaluation of combined exposure to mixtures of bisphenols and derivatives by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

The growing demand for a better understanding of the effects of chemical mixtures on human health has fostered the need for extensive estimation of uptake rates from identified sources and/or biomonitoring, which has encouraged the development of analyte- and matrix-independent analytical methods. In this paper, we report a comprehensive sample treatment platform for the efficient extraction and interference removal in the determination of twenty-one bisphenols and derivatives (log K_ow from 1.254 to 6.564) in a variety of human exposure sources and biological fluids. Treatment of both liquid (canned beverages, urine and serum) and solid (canned food, dust) samples was based on the use of low volumes (190-200 μL) of a hexanol-based supramolecular solvent having properties of restricted access materials. The efficient extraction of bisphenol and derivatives (absolute recoveries 70-114%) was due to the mixed-mode mechanisms (hydrogen bonding, polar and dispersion interactions) and the huge number of binding sites offered by the supramolecular solvent with properties of restricted access materials for solute solubilization. Signal suppression or enhancement (SSE) values kept in the range 78-116% for samples encompassing a wide range of macromolecules content (e.g. protein, fat, carbohydrates, etc.). Quantification was carried out by liquid chromatography, electrospray tandem mass spectrometry using external calibration. Method quantitation limits for bisphenols in liquid and solid samples were in the interval 0.019-0.19 μg L^-1 and 0.06-0.81 μg kg^-1. The method was applied to the determination of bisphenols and derivatives in thirteen human exposure sources and biological fluids. Only four bisphenols out of twenty-one were not found in the analyzed samples. This supramolecular solvent-based bisphenol- and matrix-independent method constitutes a valuable strategy in terms of analytical and operational characteristics for the assessment of human exposure to mixtures of bisphenols and derivatives.

Deposition, depletion, and potential bioaccumulation of bisphenol F in eggs of laying hens after consumption of contaminated feed

Increasing concerns over bisphenol A (BPA) as an endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) and its adverse effects on both humans and animals have led to the substitution by structural analogs, such as bisphenol F (BPF), in many application areas. Information regarding to the carry-over of this emerging chemical in farm animals is essential for legislation and risk assessment purposes. In this study, a large-scale number of animal experiments were designed to investigate the transfer of BPF from feed to eggs. One control and three experimental groups of laying hens (72 hens per group) were fed with basal diets and BPF-contaminated feed at concentration levels of 0.1, 0.5 and 2.5 mg kg^-1, respectively, for two weeks. The hens were then fed with BPF-free diets for a further four weeks. Eggs were collected daily, and separated into egg yolk and white for BPF analysis. The effects of different levels of BPF exposure on laying performance followed a non-monotonic dose-response curve, since low level BPF (0.1 mg kg^-1) exposure did increase the laying rate, mean egg weight and daily feed intake, while high level BPF (2.5 mg kg^-1) exposure showed a decreasing trend. BPF residues were detected in both egg yolks and whole eggs after two days of administration, and plateau phase was achieved within 9-18 days. There are clear linear dose-response relationships between the plateau BPF concentrations in feed and eggs. The residue of BPF was found mainly in egg yolks with conjugated form and depleted slowly (still detected 21 days after feeding the BPF-free diet of the high level group). Mean carry-over rate of 0.59% BPF from feed to eggs was obtained. Compared with the carry-over rates of PCBs and dioxins, BPF showed a relatively minor trend of bioaccumulation in eggs. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the deposition, depletion, and bioaccumulation study of bisphenols in farm animals. The quantity of data can therefore be helpful in the frame of risk assessment, especially for a comprehensive estimation of consumer exposure to the residues of bisphenols.

The occurrence of bisphenol compounds in animal feed plastic packaging and migration into feed

Animal-derived food plays an important role in human exposure to bisphenol compounds (BPs), potentially as a result of the presence of BPs in animal feed. Even so, there have been few studies regarding the source of BPs in animal feed. The objective of the present study was to assess both the occurrence of BPs in animal feed packaging and the migration of BPs from feed packaging into animal feed. Thirteen BPs were monitored in 30 used animal feed plastic packaging samples previously employed for different animal feedstuffs and made of polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE). Six and two BPs were found in PP-based woven bags and PE-based films, respectively. Bisphenol A (BPA) was the predominant analogue with a wide range of concentrations in both the PP- and PE-based packaging. A migration experiment was performed and provided the first-ever confirmation that BPA is able to migrate from plastic packaging into solid feed. Both contact time and the initial BP concentration affected the extent of migration. These results expand our knowledge regarding the origin of BPs in the food chain and suggest that further study of the bioaccumulation of BPs in animals is warranted.

Latest Advances in Determination of Bisphenols with Nanomaterials, Molecularly Imprinted Polymers and Aptamer Based Electrochemical Sensors

Contamination of environmental sources such as soils, sediments and rivers and human exposure caused by several endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) are considered as the most challenging issues of today's world. EDCs cover a wide variety of compounds ranging from phthalates to parabens and bisphenols (BPs) are the leading group among them. BPs are widely used during the production of different plastic materials such as food and beverage containers, toys, medical equipment and baby bottles that we use in every aspect of our lives. BPs may migrate from those products to different media under certain conditions and this situation causes chronic exposure for humans and other creatures in the environment. Especially bisphenol A (BPA) and its other analogues such as bisphenol F, bisphenol S and tetrabromobisphenol that have similar structures and are preferred as alternatives to BPA cause harmful adverse effects such as endocrine disruption, neurotoxicity, genotoxicity and cytotoxicity. There are legal restrictions and prohibitions by the European Union (EU) in order to prevent possible harmful effects. Therefore, it is important to develop highly sensitive, fast, easy to use and cheap sensors for the determination of BPs in biological, environmental and commercial samples. Electrochemical sensors, which are one of the most widely, used analytical techniques, provide these conditions. Additionally, it is possible to enhance the performance of electrochemical sensors with nanomaterials, molecularly imprinted polymers or aptamer based technologies. This review aims to give comprehensive information about BPs with summarizing most recent applications of electrochemical sensors for their determination in different samples.

A green molecular imprinted solid-phase extraction protocol for bisphenol A monitoring with HPLC-UV to guarantee the quality and safety of walnuts under different storage conditions

Monitoring the residual toxicant concentrations in foods is the key step for minimizing potential hazards. The huge interest about food contamination and exposure to endocrine disruptors such as bisphenol A has emerged the development of sensitive analytical methodologies to guarantee the safety and quality of foods. In this work, a green molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction protocol coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection was optimized following the principles of green analytical chemistry. An imprinted sol-gel silica-based hybrid inorganic-organic polymeric sorbent was used to monitor the leaching of bisphenol A from different packaging materials (glass vessels, cans, and polypropylene containers) in walnuts stored within a period of 6 months at 25 and 4°C. Extraction parameters including loading time (5-20 min), solvent type (acetonitrile, ethanol, methanol, acetone, acetonitrile:methanol, 50:50, v/v), and elution flow rate (0.2-1 mL/min) were optimized with one-factor-at-a-time method. The selected extraction optimum parameters incorporated elution with acetonitrile at 0.2 mL/min flow rate, for 10 min sample holding time. The imprinting factor was equal to 4.55 ± 0.26 (n = 3). The optimized method presented high recovery (94.3 ± 4.2%, n = 3), good linearity (>0.999), intra-assay repeatability (90.2-95.6%, n = 3), and interassay precision (86.7-93.1%, n = 3).

Presence of Parabens and Bisphenols in Food Commonly Consumed in Spain

Given the widespread use of bisphenols and parabens in consumer products, the assessment of their intake is crucial and represents the first step towards the assessment of the potential risks that these compounds may pose to human health. In the present study, a total of 98 samples of food items commonly consumed by the Spanish population were collected from different national supermarkets and grocery stores for the determination of parabens and bisphenols. Our analysis demonstrated that 56 of the 98 food samples contained detectable levels of parabens with limits of quantification (LOQ) between 0.4 and 0.9 ng g-1. The total concentration of parabens (sum of four parabens: ∑parabens) ranged from below the LOQ to 281.7 ng g-1, with a mean value of 73.86 ng g-1. A total of 52% of the samples showed detectable concentrations of bisphenols. Bisphenol A (BPA) was the most frequently detected bisphenol in the food samples analysed, followed by bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol E (BPE). Bisphenol AF (BPAF), bisphenol B (BPB) and bisphenol P (BPP) were not found in any of the analysed samples. LOQ for these bisphenols were between 0.4 and 4.0 ng g-1.

Short-term variability of bisphenols in spot, morning void and 24-hour urine samples

Due to worldwide regulations on the application of the high production volume industrial chemical bisphenol A (BPA) in various consumer products, alternative bisphenols such as bisphenol F (BPF) and bisphenol S (BPS) are increasingly used. To assess human exposure to these chemicals, biomonitoring of urinary concentrations is frequently used. However, the short-term variability of alternative bisphenols has not been evaluated thoroughly yet, which is essential to achieve a correct estimation of exposure. In this study, we collected all spot urine samples from ten healthy adults for five consecutive days, and an additional 24 h pooled sample. We measured the concentrations of seven bisphenols (BPAF, BPF, BPA, BPB, BPZ, BPS and BPAP) in these samples using gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. BPA, BPF and BPS were frequently found in spot samples (>80%), while bisphenol AP (BPAP) was detected in 43% of spot samples. Calculations of intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) showed that reproducibility of these four bisphenols was relatively poor (<0.01-0.200) but improved when concentrations were corrected for urine dilution using creatinine levels (0.128-0.401). Of these four bisphenols, BPF showed the best reproducibility (ICC 0.200-0.439) and BPS the most variability (ICC <0.01-0.128). In general, the within-participant variability of bisphenol levels was the largest contributor to the total variance (47-100%). We compared repeated first morning voids to 24 h pooled urine and found no significantly different concentrations for BPA, BPF, BPS, or BPAP. Levels of BPA and BPF differed significantly depending on the sampling time throughout the day. The findings in this study suggest that collecting multiple samples per participant over a few days, in predefined time windows throughout the day, could result in a more reliable estimation of internal exposure to bisphenols.

Introduction to Environmental Harmful Factors

In this Chapter, we systematically and comprehensively described various environmental harmful factors. They were classified into four aspects: physical factors, chemical factors, biological factors, and physiological and psychological stress factors. Their classification, modes of presence, toxicity and carcinogenicity, routes of exposure to human and toxic effects on the female reproductive health were introduced. It is expected that the exposure routes could be controlled and eliminated, and the pathogenic mechanism of environmental harmful factors should be investigated and explained to protect female reproductive health.

Application of the liquid-liquid dispersed microextraction based on phase transition behavior of temperature sensitive polymer to rapidly detect 5 BPs in food packaging

In this paper, temperature sensitive polymer p(MAH-β-CD-co-NIPAM) was used as extraction in DLLME, because its phase transition behavior can be observed at room temperature due to Hofmeister and non-co-solvent effect. The whole pretreatment process is simple and fast, and the extraction process did not require dispersant to assist dispersion and centrifugation to collect the adsorbent. A new analytical method based on DLLME coupled with HPLC-UV was developed to detect five types of BPs in milk and take-out packaging. The limits of detection ranged from 0.44 to 1.60 ng mL^-1 (S/N = 3). The relative recoveries of 5 BPs in food packaging were in the range of 91.08-108.04%.

Biomonitoring and temporal trends of bisphenols exposure in Japanese school children

The widely used chemical bisphenol A (BPA), applied in various consumer products, has been under scrutiny in the past 20 years due to its widespread detection in humans and potential detrimental effects on human health. Following the implementation of restrictions and phase-out initiatives, BPA has been replaced by other structurally similar bisphenols, which have not yet received the same level of research attention. In this study, we aimed to 1) investigated the internal exposure to seven bisphenols in morning void urine samples (n = 396) from 7-year-old children from Hokkaido, Japan and 2) assess possible time trends in the concentrations of bisphenols between 2012 and 2017. Information on demographic, indoor environment and dietary characteristics of participants were acquired through a self-administered questionnaire. All bisphenols were detected in the study population, with BPA, BPF and BPS showing detection frequencies >50%. Concentrations of bisphenols measured in the Japanese children in our study were generally lower compared to studies worldwide. We found that BPA concentrations decreased significantly over the study time period (average 6.5% per year), whereas BPS rose with 2.8% per year. Levels of BPA and BPF were higher in autumn compared to winter. Higher urinary BPF levels were significantly associated with higher concentrations of the oxidative stress biomarker, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG). BPA and BPF levels were higher in children from families with lower household income. Bisphenol concentrations were significantly influenced by some other personal (e.g. household income), food intake (e.g. vegetables and cow milk) and indoor housing characteristics (e.g. flooring). This is the first study to report longitudinal time trends of bisphenols in Japan. The presented findings imply that further research on bisphenols is warranted in the future to monitor whether these time trends continue.

Parental occupational exposure and congenital heart diseases in a Hungarian case-control study

Purpose

Our study aimed to explore the effect of parental occupational exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) on the development of congenital heart diseases (CHDs) in the offspring, and to compare job-exposure matrix (JEM)-assessed and self-reported occupational exposures with each other.

Methods

Live-born infants born in 2007–2008 were selected from the population-based Hungarian Case–Control Surveillance of Congenital Abnormalities Study. 577 cases with any CHDs were compared to 1731 matched controls. Parental periconceptional occupational exposure to EDCs was assessed by a JEM and by questionnaire-based self-reporting of parents. Multivariate conditional logistic regression analyses were conducted to explore associations between parental occupational exposure to EDCs and the entire spectrum of CHDs and by CHD subtypes in the offspring. Kappa statistics were also performed to determine the consistency among JEM-assessed and self-reported occupational exposure of parents.

Results

JEM-assessed paternal exposure to polychlorinated organic substances, phthalates, biphenolic compounds, and solvents were significantly associated with the entire spectrum of CHDs. Ventricular septal defects were significantly associated with paternal self-reported exposure to pesticides, while atrial septal defects were significantly associated to paternal JEM-assessed phthalate exposure. Paternal solvent exposure was significantly associated with atrial septal defects and right ventricle outflow tract obstructions. JEM-assessed and self-reported exposures to pesticides, heavy metals, and solvents exhibited poor agreement for mothers and slight agreement for fathers.

Conclusion

Even though parental occupational exposure to EDCs seems to have a minor impact on the occurrence of CHDs, the results of biological and environmental monitoring should be taken into consideration as well.

Fetal phthalates and bisphenols and childhood lipid and glucose metabolism. A population-based prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Fetal exposure to endocrine disruptors such as phthalates and bisphenols may lead to developmental metabolic adaptations. We examined associations of maternal phthalate and bisphenol urine concentrations during pregnancy with lipids, insulin, and glucose concentrations at school age.

METHODS

In a population-based, prospective cohort study among 757 mother-child pairs, we measured maternal phthalate and bisphenol urine concentrations in first, second and third trimester of pregnancy. We measured non-fasting lipids, glucose and insulin blood concentrations of their children at a mean age of 9.7 (standard deviation 0.2) years. Analyses were performed for boys and girls separately.

RESULTS

An interquartile range (IQR) higher natural log transformed third trimester maternal urine phthalic acid concentration was associated with a 0.20 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.07-0.34) standard deviation score (SDS) higher triglycerides concentration among boys. Maternal bisphenol urine concentrations were not associated with non-fasting lipid concentrations during childhood. An IQR higher natural log transformed second trimester maternal high molecular weight phthalates (HMWP) and di-2-ethylhexylphthalate (DEHP) urine concentration were associated with a 0.19 (95% CI 0.31-0.07) respectively 0.18 (95% CI 0.31-0.06) SDS lower glucose concentration among boys. An IQR higher natural log transformed third trimester maternal bisphenol F urine concentration was associated with a 0.22 (95% CI 0.35-0.09) SDS lower non-fasting insulin concentration among boys.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest potential persisting sex specific effects of fetal exposure to phthalates and bisphenols on childhood lipid concentrations and glucose metabolism. Future studies are needed for replication and exploring underlying mechanisms.

Formation and enhanced photodegradation of chlorinated derivatives of bisphenol A in wastewater treatment plant effluent

There are many reports on the detection and removal of emerging pollutants in the wastewater effluents, while the fate of their chlorinated derivatives generated during chlorination is not well understood. Here we investigated the photodegradation of chlorinated derivatives of bisphenol A (CDBPAs), mainly including 3-chlorobisphenol A, 3,3'-dichlorobisphenol A, 3,5-dichlorobisphenol A, 3,3',5-trichlorobisphenol A, and 3,3',5,5'-tetrachlorobisphenol A, under simulated sunlight. Distinct from BPA, CDBPAs underwent rapid direct photodegradation due to a pronounced bathochromic shift of UV absorption. The photodegradation of CDBPAs was significantly enhanced by effluent organic matter (EfOM) from the wastewater effluent. A series of quenching experiments and laser flash photolysis analysis verified the contribution of triplet states of EfOM (³EfOM∗) for the indirect photodegradation of CDBPAs with rate constant of ∼10⁹ M^-1 s^-1. Both direct and EfOM-induced indirect photodegradation of CDBPAs increased with a higher degree of chlorination. Furthermore, high-resolution mass spectrometry showed similar photoproducts for direct and indirect photodegradation of CDBPAs, mainly ascribed to the cleavage of C-Cl bond and hydroxylation with further cleavage of the benzene ring. The estrogenic activity of the photoproducts was diminished. These findings suggest that photodegradation is an important pathway for the removal and detoxication of CDBPAs from effluents and receiving natural waters under sunlight.

Activated Carbon from Spent Coffee Grounds: A Good Competitor of Commercial Carbons for Water Decontamination

In the framework of the circular economy, spent coffee grounds were converted into powdered activated carbon by means of pyrolysis, using potassium hydroxide as the activating agent. Its adsorption capacity on a panel of phenolic compounds was compared with those of two commercial powdered activated carbons, after preliminary studies on organic dyes with different ionic properties, to assess the affinity between adsorbates and adsorbents. Pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetic models were carried out, together with Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms. They were useful to calculate the breakthrough at 5%, 10%, and 50% of adsorption and the partition coefficients for the comparison of performance between different sorbent systems in a less biased manner (e.g., reducing bias associated with operational settings like sorbate concentration and sorbents dosage). The results showed that the removal efficiency for SCGs-AC was comparable with that of the commercial activated carbons with the highest partition coefficients for methylene blue (12,455 mg/g/μM, adsorption capacity = 179 mg/g) and 3-chlorophenol (81.53 mg/g/μM, adsorption capacity = 3765 mg/g). The lower efficiency in bromothymol blue and bisphenol-A adsorption was due to its different morphology and surface properties.

Worldwide bottled water occurrence of emerging contaminants: A review of the recent scientific literature

Contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) have recently been detected in bottled water and have brought about discussions on possible risks for human health. However, a systematic review of CECs in bottled water is currently lacking due to the relatively new introduction and/or detection of these pollutants. Hence, this paper reviews the existing studies on the presence of six major groups of emerging contaminants including microplastics (MPs), pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates, alkylphenols (APs), and perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in bottled water from different countries. Also, the findings related to CECs' levels, their possible sources, and their risks are summarized. The gathered data indicate that MPs within the size range of 1-5 μm are the most predominant and potentially toxic classes of MPs in bottled water. In addition, PPCPs, PFASs, APs, and BPA occur in concentration levels of ng/L, while phthalates occur in the μg/L level in bottled water. The bottle type plays an important role in the contamination level. As expected, water in plastic bottles with plastic caps is more polluted than in glass bottles. However, other sources of contamination such as contact materials during cleaning, bottling, and storage are not negligible. Based on the gathered data in this review, the CEC levels except for MPs (no threshold values) in bottled water of most countries do not raise a safety concern for the human. However, the occurrence of individual CECs and their association in bottled water need more accurate data to understand their own/synergistic effects on human health.

Luteolin-Supplemented diets ameliorates Bisphenol A-Induced toxicity in Drosophila melanogaster

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an industrial chemical used in the production of various plastic materials. It is associated with reproductive, immunological and neurological disorders. Luteolin, a flavonoid found in fruits and vegetables, possesses anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and free radical scavenging properties. Here, we carried out studies to ascertain if Luteolin would ameliorate BPA-induced toxicity in Drosophila melanogaster. Firstly, flies were treated separately with Luteolin (0, 50, 100, 150 and 300 mg/kg diet) and BPA (0, 0.01, 0.05 and 0.1 mM) for 28 days survival assessments. Consequently, Luteolin (150 and 300 mg/kg diet) and/or BPA (0.05 mM) were exposed to D. melanogaster for 7 days for the evaluation of nitric oxide level, eclosion rate, viability assay, histology of fat body, antioxidant (Glutathione-S-transferase, catalase and total thiol), oxidative stress (hydrogen peroxide) and behavioural (negative geotaxis and acetylcholinesterase) markers. The results showed that BPA induced antioxidant-oxidative stress imbalance and behavioural deficit in flies. Luteolin increased survival rate and augmented antioxidant markers in flies. Importantly, Luteolin ameliorated BPA-induced degeneration in the fat body around the rostral, thorax and abdominal regions, oxidative stress, behavioural deficit, reduction in cell viability and eclosion rate of D. melanogaster (p < 0.05). Overall, this study offered further insights on the antioxidative and chemopreventive properties of Luteolin against BPA-induced toxicity.

Subchronic toxicity of bisphenol A on the architecture of spleen and hepatic trace metals and protein profile of adult male Wistar rats

Bisphenol A (BPA) is one of the widely used chemical as a plasticizer and regarded as endocrine disruptor because of its ability to derail body metabolic functions and adverse effect on the vital organs. The present work outlined the subchronic effect of low-dose BPA (10 mg/kg) on histology of spleen, level of hepatic trace metals, and hepatic protein profile of Wistar rats. To conduct the research work, animals were grouped into two categories (n = 5). Group 1 was labelled as the control group and group 2 was taken as an experimental group. Experimental group was exposed to low-dose BPA for 12 weeks. Histopathology of spleen highlighted dilation in splenic sinuses, follicle activation, followed by depopulation in the area of white pulp and red pulp in the experimental group. Iron staining revealed significant hemosiderosis in the experimental group when compared with the control group. Statistically significant decrease was noted in zinc and copper concentrations, while nonsignificant change was observed for magnesium concentration through atomic absorption spectroscopy. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was run for hepatic protein profiling, and as compared to control, elevated levels of different proteins were observed in the experimental group. It can be concluded from the above results that even low dose of BPA causes changes in the major organs of the body. Hence, it is suggested that BPA alternative should be used, so that public health status can be secured.

Occurrence of selected endocrine disrupting compounds in the eastern cape province of South Africa

Endocrine-disrupting compounds are attracting attention worldwide because of their effects on living things in the environment. Ten endocrine disrupting compounds: 4-nonylphenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol, estrone, 17β-estradiol, bisphenol A, 4-tert-octylphenol, triclosan, atrazine, imidazole and 1,2,4-triazole were investigated in four rivers and wastewater treatment plants in this study. Rivers were sampled at upstream, midstream and downstream reaches, while the influent and effluent samples of wastewater were collected from treatment plants near the receiving rivers. Sample waters were freeze-dried followed by extraction of the organic content and purification by solid-phase extraction. Concentrations of the compounds in the samples were determined with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The instrument was operated in the positive electrospray ionization (ESI) mode. The results showed that these compounds are present in the samples with nonylphenol > dichlorophenol > bisphenol A > triclosan > octylphenol > imidazole > atrazine > triazole > estrone > estradiol. Nonylphenol has its highest concentration of 6.72 μg/L in King Williams Town wastewater influent and 2.55 μg/L in midstream Bloukrans River. Dichlorophenol has its highest concentration in Alice wastewater influent with 2.20 μg/L, while it was 0.737 μg/L in midstream Bloukrans River. Uitenhage wastewater effluent has bisphenol A concentration of 1.684 μg/L while it was 0.477 μg/L in the downstream samples of the Bloukrans River. Generally, the upstream samples of the rivers had lesser concentrations of the compounds. The wastewater treatment plants were not able to achieve total removal of the compounds in the wastewater while runoffs and wastes dump from the cities contributed to the concentrations of the compounds in the rivers.

Associations of maternal phthalate and bisphenol urine concentrations during pregnancy with childhood blood pressure in a population-based prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES

Fetal exposure to phthalates and bisphenols may lead to vascular developmental adaptations, which program later cardiovascular disease. We examined the associations of fetal exposure to phthalates and bisphenols with childhood blood pressure.

METHODS

In a population-based, prospective cohort study among 1,064 mother-child pairs, we measured maternal urine phthalate and bisphenol concentrations in first, second and third trimester of pregnancy. We measured childhood blood pressure at the mean age of 9.7 years (standard deviation 0.2 years) old. Analyses were performed for the total group, and for boys and girls separately.

RESULTS

Maternal urine phthalate concentrations were not associated with childhood blood pressure among boys. Higher third trimester maternal urine concentrations of high molecular weight phthalates (HMWP), di-2-ehtylhexylphthalate (DEHP) and di-n-octylphthalate (DNOP) were associated with lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure among girls (p-values < 0.01). Also, higher second trimester maternal urine total bisphenol and bisphenol A concentrations were associated with higher systolic blood pressure among boys (p values < 0.01), but tended to be associated with a lower diastolic blood pressure among girls.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest sex-dependent associations of maternal urine phthalate and bisphenol concentrations during pregnancy with childhood blood pressure. Further studies are needed to explore the underlying mechanisms and long term consequences.

Hydrothermal synthesis of NiFe2O4 nanoparticles as an efficient electrocatalyst for the electrochemical detection of bisphenol A

In this study, the sensitive and selective detection of bisphenol A (BPA) was achieved using a screen-printed carbon electrode (NFO/SPCE) modified with hydrothermally synthesized NiFe₂O₄ nanoparticles.