Association between bisphenol A diglycidyl ether-specific IgG in serum and food sensitization in young children

Measurement of Bisphenol A Diglycidyl Ether (BADGE), BADGE derivatives, and Bisphenol F Diglycidyl Ether (BFDGE) in Japanese infants with NICU hospitalization history

BACKGROUND

Bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE) and Bisphenol F diglycidyl ether (BFDGE) are used in medical devices, such as intravenous sets, syringes, and catheters. Several studies have reported that these compounds are endocrine disruptors, cytotoxic, and genotoxic, raising concerns about their adverse effects on infants, in a stage of remarkable growth and development. The present study aimed to measure the serum concentrations of BADGE, derivatives of BADGE, and BFDGE in infants and examine the factors that influence them.

METHODS

Ten infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) were enrolled in the present study. Blood samples from each infant and questionnaires from their mothers were collected twice, at 1-2 months and 7 months of age. BADGE, BADGE·H2O, BADGE·2H2O, and BFDGE were quantified using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

RESULTS

Serum BADGE·2H2O was identified in all infants, at both 1-2 months (2.30-157.58 ng/ml) and 7 months of age (0.86-122.85 ng/ml). One of the two infants who received invasive ventilation showed a substantially increased BADGE·2H2O concentration. There was no significant difference in BADGE·2H2O concentrations at 7 months of age between the group that ate commercial baby food at least ≥ 1 time per week and the group that did not.

CONCLUSIONS

BADGE·2H2O was detected in the serum of all infants with a history of NICU hospitalization. Future studies are needed to determine the source of BADGE exposure and investigate its effects on infant development.

Human dietary exposure to bisphenol-diglycidyl ethers in China: Comprehensive assessment through a total diet study

Despite the widespread use of bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE) and bisphenol F diglycidyl ether (BFDGE) in various consumer products as protective plasticizer, studies on human dietary exposure to these compounds are scare. In this study, nine bisphenol diglycidyl ethers (BDGEs) including BADGE, BFDGE, and seven of their derivatives were determined in the Chinese adult population based on composite dietary samples collected from the sixth (2016-2019) China total diet study (TDS). Contamination level of nine BDGEs was determined in 288 composite dietary samples from 24 provinces in China. BADGE·2H₂O and BADGE are the most frequently detected and BADGE·2H₂O presented the highest mean concentration (2.402 μg/kg). The most contaminated food composite is meats, with a mean ∑₉BDGEs of 8.203 μg/kg, followed by aquatic products (4.255 μg/kg), eggs (4.045 μg/kg), and dairy products (3.256 μg/kg). The estimated daily intake (EDI) of ∑₉BDGEs based on the mean and 95th percentile concentrations are 121.27 ng/kg bw/day and 249.71 ng/kg bw/day. Meats, eggs, and aquatic products are the main source of dietary exposure. Notably, beverages and water, alcohols were the main contributors of dietary exposure to BADGE and BADGE·2H₂O, followed by animal-derived foods. Dietary exposure assessment demonstrated that human dietary BDGEs do not pose risks to general population based on the mean and 95th percentile hazard index with < 1. This is the first comprehensive national dietary exposure assessment of BDGEs in Chinese general population.

Impact of phthalates and bisphenols plasticizers on haemocyte immune function of aquatic invertebrates: A review on physiological, biochemical, and genomic aspects

The invertebrate innate immunity is a crucial characteristic that represents a valuable basis for studying common biological responses to environmental pollutants. Cell defence mechanisms are key players in protecting the organism from infections and foreign materials. Many haemocyte-associated immunological parameters have been reported to be immunologically sensitive to aquatic toxins (natural or artificial). Environmental plastic pollution poses a global threat to ecosystems and human health due to plastic vast and extensive use as additives in various consumer products. In recent years, studies have been done to evaluate the effects of plasticizers on humans and the environment, and their transmission and presence in water, air, and indoor dust, and so forth. Hence, the development of biomarkers that evaluate biological responses to different pollutants are essential to obtain important information on plasticizers' sublethal effects. This review analyses the current advances in the adverse effects of plasticizers (as emerging contaminants), such as immunological response disruption. The review also shows a critical analysis of the effects of the most widely used plasticizers on haemocytes. The advantages of an integrative approach that uses chemical, genetic, and immunomarker assays to monitor toxicity are highlighted. All these factors are imperative to ponder when designing toxicity studies to recognize the potential effects of plasticizers like bisphenol A and phthalates.

Bisphenol A as a risk factor for allergic rhinitis in children

AIM

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is an endocrine disrupting compound and may exacerbate or induce allergic diseases. To the best of our knowledge, there is little evidence regarding the effects of BPA exposure on allergic rhinitis (AR) in children. In the present study, we sought to examine whether exposure to BPA in children is associated with AR.

METHODS

This study was designed as a case controlled clinical study. 140 children diagnosed as allergic rhinitis and 140 healthy children as control group were recruited. BPA, interleukin-4, interleukin-13, total IgE and interferon-gamma levels were determined. Skin prick tests were performed in patient group. Total nasal symptom score and ARIA classification were used to predict disease severity.

RESULTS

Serum IL-4, IgE and BPA levels of children with allergic rhinitis were found to be significantly higher than the control group. BPA and IL-4 levels were significantly higher in moderate to severe-persistent group. There was a positive correlation between total nasal symptom scores and Bisphenol A levels in children with allergic rhinitis.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study is the first to observe statistically significant relationship between BPA concentrations and allergic rhinitis in children. Also increased levels of BPA are associated with disease severity.