Urinary bisphenol A (BPA) concentrations and exposure predictors among pregnant women in the Laizhou Wan Birth Cohort (LWBC), China

Although BPA use is widespread and often detectable in humans, little is known about its exposure levels and potential exposure predictors in pregnant women in China. We investigated the BPA exposure levels in pregnant women and its health implications and potential exposure predictors. Urinary BPA levels were measured for 506 pregnant women in northern China. Hazard quotients (HQs) based on estimated daily intakes (EDIs) were conducted. Sociodemographic characteristics and food consumption during pregnancy were collected and seasons of sample collection were recorded. The detection rate of urinary BPA was 86.6% and the median concentrations were 0.48g/L (1.05g/g creatinine). The EDI (median=0.008g/kg bw/day) was much lower than the recommended tolerable daily doses and the HQ (median=0.002) much lower than 1. The urine collected in summer had significantly higher BPA levels than that collected in other seasons (=0.225; 95% CI -0.008, 0.458; p=0.03). Women always consuming shellfish had significantly higher BPA levels than those seldom consuming shellfish (=0.341; 95% CI 0.022, 0.66; p=0.04). The study found a wide exposure to BPA among pregnant women in this region, which might be associated with seasonal variation and shellfish consumption. Although the HQs suggested no obvious risk, further attention to the comprehensive exposure and potential determinants should be paid in view of its endocrine-disrupting potential.