Maternal bisphenol-A levels at delivery: a looming problem?

Objective: The objective was to determine whether bisphenol- A ( BPA) is found in maternal circulation of pregnant women in the US population and is related to gestational length and birth weight. Method: Circulating levels of BPA were quantified by high performance liquid chromatography- tandem mass spectrometry at delivery in 40 southeastern Michigan mothers and correlated with gestational length and birth weight of offspring. Result: Maternal levels of unconjugated BPA ranged between 0.5 and 22.3 ng ml(-1) in southeastern Michigan mothers. There was no correlation between BPA concentrations and gestational length or birth weight of offspring. Conclusion: This is the first study to document measurable levels of BPA in maternal blood of the US population. Long- term follow- up studies of offspring are needed to validate or refute concerns over human fetal exposure to synthetic exogenous steroids.