Bisphenol S is present in culture media used for ART and cell culture

STUDY QUESTION: Do plastic laboratory consumables and cell culture media used in ART contain bisphenols? SUMMARY ANSWER: The majority of human embryo culture media assessed contained bisphenol S dose to the nanomolar concentration range, while no release of bisphenols by plastic consumables was detected under routine conditions. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: The deleterious effect of the endocrine disruptor bisphenol A (BPA) on female fertility raised concerns regarding ART outcome. BPA was detected neither in media nor in the majority of plastic consumables used in ART; however, it might have already been replaced by its structural analogs, including bisphenol S (BPS). STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: Seventeen plastic consumables and 18 cell culture and ART media were assessed for the presence of bisphenols. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Ten different bisphenols (bisphenol A, S, AF, AP, B, C, E, F, P and Z) were measured using an isotopic dilution according to an on-line solid phase extraction/liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry method. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: While the plastic consumables did not release bisphenols under routine conditions, 16 of the 18 cell culture and ART media assessed contained BPS. Six media exhibited BPS concentrations higher than 1 nM and reached up to 6.7 nM (1693 ng/l). LARGE SCALE DATA: N/A. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: Further studies are required to investigate a greater number of ART media to identify less potentially harmful ones, in terms of bisphenol content. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: As BPS has already been reported to impair oocyte quality at nanomolar concentrations, its presence in ART media, at a similar concentration range, could contribute to a decrease in the ART success rate. Thus far, there has been no regulation of these compounds in the ART context.

Automated summary

The majority of human embryo culture media assessed contained bisphenol S, while no release of bisphenols by plastic consumables was detected under routine conditions. Further studies are needed to investigate a greater number of ART media to identify less potentially harmful ones in terms of bisphenol content.