Highly Sensitive and High-Throughput Method for the Analysis of Bisphenol Analogues and Their Halogenated Derivatives in Breast Milk

Global occurrence of bisphenol compounds in breast milk and infant formula: A systematic review

Bisphenol compounds (BPs), particularly bisphenol A (BPA), are chemicals that are widely used in various industrial sections and come into contact with humans via different routes of exposure. Documented toxic effects of BPs include androgenicity, estrogenecity, cytotoxicity, neurotoxicity, etc. As a well-known member of bisphenols, BPA is an endocrine disruptor chemical (EDC) that has been the subject of safety regulations. Monitoring infants' exposure to BPs via consumption of breast milk and infant formula is essential as they are at critical stages of development and are potentially more vulnerable. Following a systematic search in databases PubMed and Scopus, out of 44 studies included in the present work, 27 and 13 analyzed breast milk and infant formula samples, respectively. In addition, 4 studies reported BPs levels in both matrices. BPA is the most frequently detected BP with concentrations in breast milk reaching up to 112.44 ng/g in samples from Taiwan and as high as 262 ng/g in formula samples from Canada. For breast milk and formula samples, Liquid Chromatography coupled with Tandem Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) and Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) were the most frequently employed methods of detection, respectively. Our review indicates scarcity of data on BPA analogs such as bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol F (BPF), highlighting the necessity for assessment of the occurrence of all BPA analogs in these matrices.

Associations of maternal behaviours and environmental exposures with melamine and bisphenol analogs in breast milk: a cross-sectional study

This study investigated the relationship between maternal behaviours, environmental exposures, and the levels of melamine and bisphenols (BPs), including bisphenol F (BPF), bisphenol A-F (BPAF), and bisphenol S (BPS), in breast milk. Mothers provided information on cosmetic use, food packaging, and dietary habits, while breast milk samples were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography. BPAF, BPS, and BPF were detected in 32.3%, 33.8%, and 20% of samples, respectively, while melamine was present in all samples (mean: 32.3 ± 16.7 ng/mL). Seven samples (10.8%) contained all three BPs, while 49.2% had none. Higher BPAF and BPF levels were observed in breast milk from mothers aged 30-34. Makeup use was associated with elevated BPAF levels (p = 0.013), while sunscreen use was correlated with increased BPF (p = 0.040) and melamine (p = 0.010) levels. Storing oil in plastic containers was linked to higher BPS levels. These findings suggest that maternal exposure to personal care products and food packaging materials significantly influences BPs and melamine levels in breast milk. The results highlight the importance of considering both behavioural and environmental factors when assessing chemical exposure during breastfeeding. Further research is needed to understand the long-term effects of these exposures on infant health.

Low lipid levels caused by bisphenol S exposure trigger neuroinflammation and apoptosis in the brain of zebrafish

Bisphenol S (BPS), as an environmental pollutant, is known to reduce brain lipid levels and induce neurotoxicity. However, whether brain lipid imbalance can induce neurotoxicity has not yet been clarified. Here, wild-type zebrafish and apoEb mutant zebrafish were used to investigate the effect of BPS on the macrophages proliferation and microglia mobilization caused by the decrease of cerebral lipids and its potential neurotoxic effects. The zebrafish exposed to BPS (1, 10, or 100 μg/L) from 2 hours after fertilization (hpf) to 3 days after fertilization (dpf) displayed microglial aggregation, as well as a decrease in brain lipid content. Lipidomic analyses of the brains and plasma of 50 dpf zebrafish exposed to BPS were used to identify key lipids, including lysophosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylcholine in brain and phosphatidylcholine in plasma. The apoEb mutant zebrafish as a hyperlipidemia model was used to further demonstrate that BPS-induced lipid reduction increased the number of microglia in the brain. Our data provide new insight into the mechanism by which pollutants cause neurotoxicity.

The biological effects of bisphenol AF in reproduction and development: What do we know so far?

Due to the established endocrine-disrupting effects of Bisphenol A (BPA), alternative bisphenols entered the market. Bisphenol AF (BPAF) is now commonly used in the industrial manufacturing of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. However, BPAF's effects on reproduction and development have not been thoroughly reviewed. We investigated the relationship between BPAF exposure and reproduction and early development. We performed a literature review of studies on BPAF and reproductive physiology. Using keywords, we searched PubMed, Medline, Cochrane Library Database, Embase, and ClinicalTrials.gov for English language literature available until December 2024; we additionally identified and included studies from bibliographies. We included 125 articles, spanning in vitro and in vivo model organism and human studies. BPAF is a selective estrogen receptor modulator and an androgen receptor antagonist and is more potent than BPA. It is detected in urine, blood products, saliva, amniotic fluid, and breast milk. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrate a spectrum of BPAF-induced endocrine and reproductive changes in both sexes. There is strong evidence of alterations in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and of altered steroidogenesis pathways. Multiple studies using zebrafish, Xenopus, chickens, and rodents, show BPAF's effects on embryogenesis, morphology, and sexual differentiation. Decreased serum testosterone and impaired spermatogenesis and oocyte viability have been demonstrated. The current literature shows clear disruptive effects of BPAF on reproductive health and embryonic development. Though further investigation is warranted, there is ample converging evidence to support limiting the use of BPAF and other similar bisphenols.

Bisphenol S interrupted axonogenesis on a human embryonic stem cells derived neural differentiation model: Conserved axon guidance and WNT signaling pathway involved

Bisphenol S (BPS) is the main substitute for bisphenol A (BPA). However, the neurodevelopmental toxicity of BPS and the underlying mechanisms remain unraveled. In present study, the neuro-differentiating human embryonic stem cells, hESC, was exposed to BPS (0-375 µM) at different stages (the precursor stage, the precursor to maturation stage, and the whole differentiation stage) to assess the potential neurodevelopmental toxicity and its mechanisms. The results revealed that BPS exposure interrupted axonogenesis, manifesting a trend of initial stimulating followed by inhibition, and peaked at the intermediate dose (3.75 μM) significantly, then reached the nadir at the high dose (375 μM) significantly in the precursor to maturation stage and the whole differentiation stage. Transcriptomics analysis showed that the main interrupted pathway enriched in axonogenesis, myelination, and neurotransmitter secretion by the GO function analysis and immune-related pathway by the KEGG analysis, besides, conserved axon guidance (Slit-Robo, Netrin-DCC, Semaphorin-Plexin) and WNT signaling pathway was also enriched in KEGG pathway analysis, which previously proved to regulate axonogenesis by directly acting on growth cones and inhibit axon growth by neuroinflammatory responses. And we found that a higher neuroinflammatory response may be induced through whole-differentiation-stage exposure than the response of exposure through the precursor to maturation stage. Overall, our findings indicated the non-monotonic neurodevelopmental toxicity of BPS exposure, and the inhibition of axonogenesis was possibly mediated by conserved axon guidance and WNT signaling pathway, while neuro-immune related pathway should be further investigated.

Altered mammary gland development and pro-tumorigenic changes in young female mice following prenatal BPAF exposure

Bisphenol A (BPA) is being phased out owing to its endocrine-disrupting effects and is increasingly being replaced by its substitute compounds such as bisphenol AF (BPAF). This study aims to explore the potential adverse outcomes of prenatal BPAF exposure combined with postnatal cross-fostering on the development and long-term health effects of the mammary gland in offspring. The results suggested that prenatal BPAF exposure accelerates the puberty, and induces duct dilatations, angiogenesis, lobular hyperplasia, and enhanced inflammatory cell infiltration in the mammary gland of female offspring. Differentially expressed genes exhibiting time series patterns induced by BPAF exposure were enriched in biological processes related to mammary gland development, epithelial cell proliferation and so on. Notably, 13 breast cancer-related biomarkers including Pgr, Gata3, Egfr and Areg were screened, showing a time-dependent increase in expression. After human homologous gene transformation, TCGA analysis suggested that the human homologues of genes differentially expressed in BPAF-treated mice were associated with increased tumor stages in female patients with breast cancer. Furthermore, postnatal cross-fostering did not completely restore the adverse effects of prenatal BPAF exposure and even showed a reverse tendency. These results imply that prenatal BPAF exposure in utero and postnatally nursing by BPAF exposed dams, have long-term effects on the mammary glands health of female offspring.

Determination of Bisphenol Compounds and the Bioaccumulation after Co-Exposure with Polyethylene Microplastics in Zebrafish

Knowledge regarding the combined toxicity mechanism of bisphenol compounds and microplastics (MPs) on organisms remains limited. In this study, we first developed an accurate and sensitive method to simultaneously quantify two bisphenol compounds and evaluate their accumulation and tissue distribution after co-exposure with MPs in zebrafish. Then, we determined the bioaccumulation potential of bisphenol A (BPA) and bisphenol S (BPS) in adult zebrafish in the absence and presence of MPs. Bisphenol compounds were found to accumulate in different tissues of zebrafish, with BPS showing lower accumulation levels compared to BPA. Importantly, we discovered that the presence of MPs could exacerbate the accumulation of bisphenol compounds in biological tissues. These findings highlight the enhanced bioavailability and risk posed by the co-exposure of bisphenol compounds and MPs, underscoring the need for further investigation into their combined environmental and biological health impacts.

Indian and global scenarios of Bisphenol A distribution and its new analogues: Prevalence & probability exceedance

We compare, the prevalence, fate, and sources of Bisphenol A both globally and in India. India has the highest concentration of BPA and Bisphenol S(BPS) in general, with vegetables, particularly corn, beans, strings, and raw or canned vegetables, being the largest contributors. Among all the matrices, bisphenols (BPs) are found in the highest concentration in food, followed by surface water, wastewater, and indoor dust. BPA, BPS, and BPF are the most commonly reported analogues in India, with BPA being the most dominant category used worldwide. The highest concentration of BPs is observed in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana that are three major agricultural states of India however, there is still a research gap regarding the dietary exposure to BPs on an individual level. Environmentally detected BPA occurs in a range of below detection to 10636 ng. L-1, with significant geographic variations. Interestingly, the order of abundance in India was maximum for BPS, which is contrary to the global average, where BPA is observed as most abundant. BPS is found to be the most common BPs analogue in surface water worldwide, with limited removal efficiency by both naturally remediation and conventional treatment methods. Similar patterns were observed in the US-India and Japan-Korea regions in terms of their source-sink-prevalence-fate dynamics. The probability of exceeding safe concentrations of BPs is higher in India and Korea, suggesting that these countries are more vulnerable to high prevalence concentrations and the subsequent public health hazards.

Estimated exposure to bisphenol A in breastfed and breastfed plus formula-fed infants in Turkey: a comparison study

This study aimed to estimate and compare dietary exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) in exclusively breastfed (EBF) and breastfed plus formula-fed (BF + FF) infants. A total of 70 mothers and their 0-6 month-old infants (40 in the EBF group and 30 in BF + FF group) were included in the study. After the questionnaire form was applied to the mothers, maternal breast milk, infant formula, and infant urine were collected from mother-infant dyads. Total BPA levels in breast milk, infant formula, and infant urine samples were analyzed by the high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). While BPA was detected in 92.5% of the breast milk samples in the EBF group (mean ± SD = 0.59 ± 0.29 ng/mL), BPA was detected in all of the breast milk samples in the BF + FF group (mean ± SD= 0.72 ± 0.37 ng/mL) (p < 0.05). Similarly, 100% of the infant formula samples in the BF + FF group had detectable levels of BPA (mean ± SD = 7.54 ± 1.77 ng/g formula). The mean urinary BPA levels in the EBF infants (4.33 ± 1.89 µg/g creatinine) were not statistically different from the BF + FF infants (5.81 ± 0.11 µg/g creatinine) (p > 0.05). The average daily BPA intake in EBF infants (0.18 ± 0.13 µg/kg body weight (bw)/day) was found to be significantly higher than in BF + FF infants (0.12 ± 0.09 µg/kg bw/day) (p < 0.05). The estimated dietary intakes of BPA for infants in both groups were below the temporary tolerable daily intake (t-TDI) (4 µg/kg bw/day). Consequently, BPA intake of EBF and BF + FF infants were within safe daily limits during the first six months of life.

Gestational exposure to bisphenol AF causes endocrine disorder of corpus luteum by altering ovarian SIRT-1/Nrf2/NF-kB expressions and macrophage proangiogenic function in mice

Bisphenol AF (BPAF) is extensively used in industrial production as an emerging substitute for the earlier-used bisphenol A (BPA). Studies have found that BPAF had stronger estrogenic activities than BPA. However, the effects of BPAF on the luteal function of pregnancy and its possible mechanisms are largely unknown. In this study, pregnant mice were orally administered 3.0 and 30 mg/kg/day of BPAF from gestational day (GD) 1 to 8, and samples were collected on GD 8 and GD 19. Results showed that maternal exposure to BPAF impaired embryo implantation and reduced ovarian weight, and interfered with steroid hormone secretion, and decreased the numbers and areas of corpus luteum. BPAF treatment significantly down-regulated expression levels of ovarian Star, Cyp11a, Hsd3b1, and Cyp19a1 mRNA and CYP19a1 and ERα proteins. BPAF also disrupted markers of redox/inflammation key, including silent information regulator of transcript-1 (SIRT-1), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-ĸB) expressions along with reduced ovarian antioxidant (CAT and SOD) capacity, enhanced oxidant (H2O2 and MDA) and inflammatory factor (Il6 and Tnfa) activities. Furthermore, BPAF exposure inhibited macrophages with a pro-angiogenic phenotype that specifically expressed TIE-2, accompanied by inhibition of angiogenic factors (HIF1a, VEGFA, and Angpt1) and promotion of anti-angiogenic factor Ang-2 to suppress luteal angiogenesis. In addition, BPAF administration also induced luteolysis and apoptosis by up-regulation of COX-2, BAX/BCL-2, and Cleaved-Caspase-3 protein. Collectively, our current data demonstrated that gestational exposure to BPAF caused luteal endocrine disorder by altering ovarian SIRT-1/Nrf2/NF-kB expressions and macrophage proangiogenic function in mice.

N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine Ameliorates BPAF-Induced Porcine Sertoli Cell Apoptosis and Cell Cycle Arrest via Inhibiting the ROS Level

Bisphenol AF (BPAF) is a newly identified contaminant in the environment that has been linked to impairment of the male reproductive system. However, only a few studies have systematically studied the mechanisms underlying BPAF-induced toxicity in testicular Sertoli cells. Hence, this study primarily aims to explore the toxic mechanism of BPAF on the porcine Sertoli cell line (ST cells). The effects of various concentrations of BPAF on ST cell viability and cytotoxicity were evaluated using the Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. The results demonstrated that exposure to a high concentration of BPAF (above 50 μM) significantly inhibited ST cell viability due to marked cytotoxicity. Flow cytometry analysis further confirmed that BPAF facilitated apoptosis and induced cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase. Moreover, BPAF exposure upregulated the expression of pro-apoptotic markers BAD and BAX while downregulating anti-apoptotic and cell proliferation markers BCL-2, PCNA, CDK2, and CDK4. BPAF exposure also resulted in elevated intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA), alongside reduced activities of the antioxidants glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Furthermore, the ROS scavenger N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) effectively blocked BPAF-triggered apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Therefore, this study suggests that BPAF induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in ST cells by activating ROS-mediated pathways. These findings enhance our understanding of BPAF's role in male reproductive toxicity and provide a foundation for future toxicological assessments.

Low-dose BPA and its substitute BPS promote ovarian cancer cell stemness via a non-canonical PINK1/p53 mitophagic signaling

The environmental toxicity of bisphenol A (BPA) and its analog like bisphenol S (BPS) have drawn wide attention, but their roles in cancer progression remain controversial. Here, we investigated the effect of BPA/BPS on the development of ovarian cancer. Human internal BPA/BPS exposure levels were analyzed from NHANES 2013-2016 data. We treated human ovarian cancer cells with 0-1000 nM BPA/BPS and found that 100 nM BPA/BPS treatment significantly increased Cancer Stem Cell (CSC) markers expression including OCT4, NANOG and SOX2. Cancer cell stemness evaluation induced by BPA/BPS was notably attenuated by the knockdown of PINK1 or Mdivi-1 treatment. The activation of PINK1 initiated mitophagy by inhibiting p-p53 nuclear translocation in a non-canonical manner. In vivo studies validated that BPA/BPS-exposed mice have higher tumor metastasis incidence compared with the control group, while mitophagy inhibition blocked such a promotion effect. In addition, CSC markers such as SOX2 had been found to be overexpressed in the tumor tissues of BPA/BPS exposure group. Taken together, the findings herein first provide the evidence that environmentally relevant BPA/BPS exposure could enhance ovarian cancer cell stemness through a non-canonical PINK1/p53 mitophagic pathway, raising concerns about the potential population hazards of BPA and other bisphenol analogs.

Challenges in the Analytical Preparation of a Biological Matrix in Analyses of Endocrine-Disrupting Bisphenols

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are xenobiotics presented in a variety of everyday products that may disrupt the normal activity of hormones. Exposure to bisphenol A as EDC at trace and ultra-trace levels is associated with adverse health effects, and children are recognized as the most vulnerable group to EDCs exposure. In this review, a summary is presented of up-to-date sample preparation methods and instrumental techniques applied for the detection and quantification of bisphenol A and its structural analogues in various biological matrices. Biological matrices such as blood, cell-free blood products, urine, saliva, breast milk, cordial blood, amniotic and semen fluids, as well as sweat and hair, are very complex; therefore, the detection and later quantification of bisphenols at low levels present a real analytical challenge. The most popular analytical approaches include gas and liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, and their enhanced reliability and sensitivity finally allow the separation and detection of bisphenols in biological samples, even as ultra-traces. Liquid/liquid extraction (LLE) and solid-phase extraction (SPE) are still the most common methods for their extraction from biological matrices. However, many modern and environmentally safe microextraction techniques are currently under development. The complexity of biological matrices and low concentrations of analytes are the main issues for the limited identification, as well as understanding the adverse health effects caused by chronical and ubiquitous exposure to bisphenols and its analogues.

Effective Extraction of Bisphenol Compounds from Milk with Stable Zr(IV)-Based Metal-Organic Framework Particles

Bisphenol compounds (BPs) have recently been the subject of growing interest due to their wide use in industrial and consumer products. Besides their adverse effects on human endocrine system, effective extraction of BPs and their elimination from complex sample matrix are still significant challenges in food analysis. Herein, a novel Zr(IV)-based metal-organic framework (MOF), named BUT-16, has been synthesized and utilized for the extraction and enrichment of BPs in milk samples. Bisphenol A (BPA), one of the highest production volume BPs, is used as a model molecule. The uptake capacity for BPA can reach up to 48 mg/g, and the adsorption rate is rapid (∼10 min), because of the larger surface area and cooperation of multiple functionalities of BUT-16. Employing BUT-16 in solid-phase extraction, coupled with ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry detection, we generated a rapid, facile, and robust method for the enrichment and detection of trace BPA and its 12 substitutes in milk samples. After optimization, the limits of detection and quantification for BPs can be achieved as low as 0.05 and 0.2 ng/mL, respectively. Without the correction of the isotopic internal standard, the average recoveries of BPs at the different spiked concentrations varied from 63.8 to 120.6%, with a satisfactory precision (RSD ≤ 8.2%). Furthermore, the proposed method was successfully applied to the detection of BPs in real milk samples, and the results were in accordance with those of methods reported previously.

In silico profiling of endocrine-disrupting potential of bisphenol analogues and their halogenated transformation products

Due to its endocrine-disrupting properties, bisphenol A (BPA) is being phased out from plastics, thermal paper and epoxy resins, and its replacements are being introduced into the market. Bisphenols are released into the environment, where they can undergo halogenation. Unlike BPA, the endocrine-disrupting potential of BPA analogues and their halogenated transformation products has not been extensively studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the endocrine-disrupting potential of 18 BPA analogues and their halogenated derivatives by calculating affinities for 14 human nuclear receptors utilizing the Endocrine Disruptome and VirtualToxLab™ in silico tools. Our simulations identified AR, ERs, and GR as the most favorable targets of bisphenols and their derivatives. Several BPA analogues displayed a higher predicted potential for endocrine disruption than BPA. Our models highlighted BPZ and BPPH as the most hazardous in terms of predicted endocrine activities. Halogenation, in general, was predicted to increase the binding affinity of bisphenols for AR, ERβ, MR, GR, PPARγ, and TRβ. Notably, mono- or 2,2'-di-halogenated bisphenols exhibited the highest potential for endocrine disruption. In vitro corroboration of the obtained results should be the next milestone in evaluating the safety of BPA substitutes and their halogenated transformation products.

A case-control study of urinary concentrations of bisphenol A, bisphenol F, and bisphenol S and the risk of papillary thyroid cancer

The incidence of thyroid cancer (TC), especially papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), has dramatically increased globally. Whereas some endocrine disruptors have been linked to neoplastic processes, the associations between human exposure to bisphenol analogs and the risk of TC remain unclear. This present case-control study examined the associations between the urinary concentrations of bisphenol A (BPA) and other bisphenols, namely bisphenol F (BPF) and bisphenol S (BPS), and the risk of PTC. After adjusting for confounders and creatinine standardization, significantly positive associations were observed for BPF (odds ratio [OR] = 1.80, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.27-2.54), but negative associations observed for BPA (OR = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.19-0.77) and BPS (OR = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.43-0.93), in the total population. However, after stratification by age and smoking, statistical significance was retained only in non-smoking women, suggesting the adverse effects of BPF exposure on PTC risk, especially in women. These findings require replication and confirmation in further research.

An Assessment of Mass Flows, Removal and Environmental Emissions of Bisphenols in a Sequencing Batch Reactor Wastewater Treatment Plant

This study analyzed 16 bisphenols (BPs) in wastewater and sludge samples collected from different stages at a municipal wastewater treatment plant based on sequencing batch reactor technology. It also describes developing an analytical method for determining BPs in the solid phase of activated sludge based on solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Obtained concentrations are converted into mass flows, and the biodegradation of BPs and adsorption to primary and secondary sludge are determined. Ten of the sixteen BPs were present in the influent with concentrations up to 434 ng L^-1 (BPS). Only five BPs with concentrations up to 79 ng L^-1 (BPA) were determined in the plant effluent, accounting for 8 % of the total BPs determined in the influent. Eleven per cent of the total BPs were adsorbed on primary and secondary sludge. Overall, BPs biodegradation efficiency was 81%. The highest daily emissions via effluent release (1.48 g day^-1) and sludge disposal (4.63 g day^-1) were for BPA, while total emissions reached 2 g day^-1 via effluent and 6 g day^-1 via sludge disposal. The data show that the concentrations of BPs in sludge are not negligible, and their environmental emissions should be monitored and further studied.

Effects of bisphenol AF on growth, behavior, histology and gene expression in marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma)

Bisphenol AF (BPAF) is one of the substitutes for bisphenol A (BPA), which has endocrine-disrupting, reproductive and neurological toxicity. BPAF has frequently been detected in the aquatic environment, which has been a long-term threat to the health of aquatic organisms. In this study, female marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma) were exposed to 6.7 μg/L, 73.4 μg/L, and 367.0 μg/L BPAF for 120 d. The effects of BPAF on behavior, growth, liver and ovarian histology, gene transcriptional profiles, and reproduction of marine medaka were determined. The results showed that with the increase of BPAF concentration, the swimming speed of female marine medaka showed an increasing trend and then decreasing trend. BPAF (367.0 μg/L) significantly increased body weight and condition factors in females. BPAF (73.4 μg/L and 367.0 μg/L) significantly delayed oocyte maturation. Exposure to 367.0 μg/L BPAF showed an increasing trend in the transcript levels of lipid synthesis and transport-related genes such as fatty acid synthase (fasn), sterol regulatory element binding protein (srebf), diacylglycerol acyltransferase (dgat), solute carrier family 27 member 4 (slc27a4), fatty acid-binding protein (fabp), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (pparγ) in the liver. In addition, 6.7 μg/L BPAF significantly down-regulated the expression levels of antioxidant-related genes [superoxide dismutase (sod), glutathione peroxidase (gpx), and catalase (cat)], and complement system-related genes [complement component 5 (c5), complement component 7a (c7a), mannan-binding lectin serine peptidase 1 (masp1), and tumor necrosis factor (tnf)] were significantly up-regulated in the 73.4 and 367.0 μg/L groups, which implies the effect of BPAF on the immune system in the liver. In the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis (HPG) results, the transcription levels of estrogen receptor α (erα), estrogen receptor β (erβ), androgen receptor (arα), gonadotropin-releasing hormone 2 (gnrh2), cytochrome P450 19b (cyp19b), aromatase (cyp19a), and luteinizing hormone receptor (lhr) in the brain and ovary, and vitellogenin (vtg) and choriogenin (chg) in the liver of 367.0 μg/L BPAF group showed a downward trend. In addition, exposure to 367.0 μg/L BPAF for 120 d inhibited the spawning behavior of marine medaka. Our results showed that long-term BPAF treatment influenced growth (body weight and condition factors), lipid metabolism, and ovarian maturation, and significantly altered the immune response and the transcriptional expression levels of HPG axis-related genes.

Multi-residue determination of bisphenol analogues in organism tissues by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A reliable and sensitive analyzing method was developed and validated for determination of 13 novel bisphenol analogues (BPs) along with bisphenol A (BPA) in organism tissues. The complex organism tissues were treated by ultrasonic-assisted extraction using acetonitrile/formic acid (99:1, v/v), followed by successive purification using enhanced matrix removal-lipid sorbents and primary secondary amine sorbents. The BPs were finally determined by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry after derivatization using pyridine-3-sulfonyl chloride. Satisfactory recoveries of 75 - 118% were obtained for the BPs, with good repeatability (RSD < 20%). Matrix interferences were efficiently diminished. The method quantification limits (MQLs) reached 0.003 - 0.1 ng g^-1 dry weight (dw). The validated method was successfully applied to a preliminary investigation of the BPs in wild marine organisms collected from the nearshore waters along the coast of Guangdong, China. Besides BPA, novel BPs such as bisphenol F, bisphenol AF, and tetrabromobisphenol A were also detected at < MDL - 15.5 ng g^-1 dw. This work laid a strong basis for further in-depth research on bioaccumulation of the novel BPs in the environment.

Development and validation of a method for determination of 17 endocrine disrupting chemicals in milk, water, blood serum and feed by UHPLC-MS/MS

The concern for human exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) has led to the introduction of other bisphenols to be used as substitutes in industrial processes. These compounds show activity similar to BPA as endocrine disruptors and could be already widespread both in the environment and in food. To monitor their possible occurrence in the food chain, an analytical method based on affinity chromatography clean-up and UHPLC coupled to tandem mass spectrometry detection was developed and in-house validated according to European law, for simultaneous determination of 17 bisphenols in milk and blood serum from bovine and buffalo, in drinking water and in feed. The analytical performance parameters of the method for these matrices were determined. The results showed satisfactory precision in terms of relative standard deviation (3.3%-21.4%), overall good trueness as mean percentage recoveries (77.0%-119.4%), with the only exception of bisphenol PH and bisphenol S in milk and BPA diglycidyl ether in serum. The high specificity and sensitivity of the method allowed us to determine the analytes at very low concentrations, that is, 0.01-1.0 ng/mL in water, 0.1-2.0 ng/mL in milk, 0.01-1.0 ng/g in blood serum and 1.0-10.0 ng/g in feed.

Hollow fiber membrane-protected amino/hydroxyl bifunctional microporous organic network fiber for solid-phase microextraction of bisphenols A, F, S, and triclosan in breast milk and infant formula

Bisphenols and triclosan have been used in various products, and exposure to these chemicals may affect human health. The present study proposes a sensitive method for the determination of bisphenols A, F, S, and triclosan. The fiber was coated by amino/hydroxyl bifunctional microporous organic network and protected by polyvinylidene fluoride hollow fiber membrane for direct immersion solid phase microextraction. The limit of detection was 0.005 μg/L (μg/kg), and the recoveries were in the range of 76.7% to 107.5% (87.4% to 107.6%) for breast milk (infant formula), with intra-day and inter-day precisions <10.5% (7.3%) and 13.6% (8.4%), respectively. Fiber-to-fiber reproducibility of < 9.5% and a lifespan of >100 cycles were obtained. The 95th percentile estimated daily intake of total bisphenols was close to temporary tolerable daily intake for infants fed by human milk, which highlighted the needs for further attention on human exposure to BPA and its substitutes.

Influence of aryl hydrocarbon receptor and sulfotransferase 1A1 on bisphenol AF-induced clastogenesis in human hepatoma cells

Bisphenol compounds (BPs) are ubiquitously existing pollutants. Recent evidence shows that they may be activated by human CYP1A1 for clastogenic effects; however, factors that influence/mediate CYP1A1-activated 4,4'-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphenol (BPAF) toxicity, particularly the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), sulfotransferase (SULT) 1A1 [known to conjugate 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenol)-propane (BPA)] and reactive oxygen species (ROS), remain unclear. In this study, a human hepatoma (HepG2) cell line was genetically engineered for the expression of human CYP1A1 and SULT1A1, producing HepG2-hCYP1A1 and HepG2-hSULT1A1, respectively. They were used in the micronucleus test and γ-H2AX analysis (Western blot) (indicating double-strand DNA breaks) with BPAF; the role of AhR in mediating BPAF toxicity was investigated by coexposure of AhR modulators in HepG2 and its derivative C3A (with no genetic modifications but enhanced CYP expression). The results indicated induction of micronuclei by BPAF (≥ 2.5 µM, for 2-cell cycle) in HepG2-hCYP1A1 and C3A, while inactive in HepG2 and HepG2-hSULT1A1; however, BPAF induced micronuclei in HepG2 pretreated with 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB126, AhR activator), and BAY-218 (AhR inhibitor) blocked the effect of BPAF in C3A. In HepG2-hCYP1A1 BPAF selectively induced centromere-free micronuclei (immunofluorescent assay) and double-strand DNA breaks. In HepG2 cells receiving conditional medium from BPAF-HepG2-hCYP1A1 incubation micronuclei were formed, while negative in HepG2-hSULT1A1. Finally, the intracellular levels of ROS, superoxide dismutase and reduced glutathione in C3A and HepG2-hCYP1A1 exposed to BPAF were all moderately increased, while unchanged in HepG2 cells. In conclusion, like other BPs BPAF is activated by human CYP1A1 for potent clastogenicity, and this effect is enhanced by AhR while alleviated by SULT1A1.

Transcriptome Changes and Potential Immunotoxicity Analysis in RAW264.7 Macrophages Caused by Bisphenol F

As a viable substitute for bisphenol A (BPA), BPF has been widely used in the plastic industry and daily consumer goods, resulting in its detection in humans at a comparable concentration. Evidence reveals that BPF and BPA may have similar toxic effects due to their similar structures. However, there is less information about BPF and its latent implications on the immune system, which is associated with many disorders. In this study, the in vitro toxicity of BPF on RAW264.7 macrophages was explored. The cells were treated with different concentrations of BPF (5, 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200 μM), the cell viability and apoptosis were detected, the gene expression profile was analyzed by whole-transcriptome sequencing, and the mRNA levels were detected by qRT-PCR. The results showed a high concentration of BPF could significantly reduce the survival rate of RAW264.7 macrophages. Although the medium concentration (20–50 μM) of BPF seemed to have no impact on the cell activity of macrophages, it caused the occurrence of apoptosis. The results of differential transcription showed that compared with the control group, 121 genes were upregulated and 82 genes were downregulated in the BPF group. The significantly changed gene functions were mainly concentrated in cell cycle, phagosome, lysosome, and antigen processing and presentation. These findings provide valuable information for correctly understanding the immunotoxicity risk of BPF and may help to improve the hazard identification of bisphenol compounds.

Concentrations of bisphenols, parabens, and benzophenones in human breast milk: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Breast milk is the main source of nutrition for infants but may be responsible for their exposure to environmental chemicals, including endocrine-disrupting chemicals.

AIM

To review available evidence on the presence and concentrations of bisphenols, parabens (PBs), and benzophenones (BPs) in human milk and to explore factors related to exposure levels.

METHODS

A systematic review was carried out using Medline, Web of Science, and Scopus databases, conducting a comprehensive search of peer-reviewed original articles published during the period 2000-2020, including epidemiological and methodological studies. Inclusion criteria were met by 50 studies, which were compiled by calculating weighted detection frequencies and arithmetic mean concentrations of the chemicals. Their risk of bias was assessed using the ROBINS-I checklist.

RESULTS

Among the 50 reviewed studies, concentrations of bisphenols were assessed by 37 (74.0%), PBs by 21 (42.0%), and BPs by 10 (20.0%). Weighted detection frequencies were 63.6% for bisphenol-A (BPA), 27.9-63.4% for PBs, and 39.5% for benzophenone-3 (BP-3). Weighted mean concentrations were 1.4 ng/mL for BPA, 0.2-14.2 ng/mL for PBs, and 24.4 ng/mL for BP-3. Mean concentrations ranged among studies from 0.1 to 3.9 ng/mL for BPA, 0.1 to 1063.6 ng/mL for PBs, and 0.5 to 72.4 ng/mL for BP-3. The highest concentrations of BPA and PBs were reported in samples from Asia (versus America and Europe). Higher BPA and lower methyl-paraben concentrations were observed in samples collected after 2010. Elevated concentrations of these chemicals were associated with socio-demographic and lifestyle factors in eight studies (16.0%). Two epidemiological studies showed moderate/serious risk of bias.

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review contributes the first overview of the widespread presence and concentrations of bisphenols, PBs, and BPs in human breast milk, revealing geographical and temporal variations. The methodological heterogeneity of published studies underscores the need for well-conducted studies to assess the magnitude of exposure to these chemicals from human milk.

Effects of common environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals on zebrafish behavior

Environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), a type of exogenous organic pollutants, are ubiquitous in natural aquatic environments. Therefor, this review focused on the use of the zebrafish as a model to explore the effect of different EDCs on behavior, as well as the molecular mechanisms that drive these effects. Furthermore, our study summarizes the current knowledge on the neuromodulatory effects of different EDCs in zebrafish. This study also reviews the current state of zebrafish behavior research, in addition to the potential mechanisms of single and mixed pollutant-driven behavioral dysregulation at the molecular level, as well as the applications of zebrafish behavior experiments for neuroscience research. This review broadens our understanding of the influence of EDCs on zebrafish behavior and provides guidance for future research.

Influence of BPA exposure, measured in saliva, on childhood weight

INTRODUCTION

Endocrine disruptors such as bisphenol A (BPA), BPA glycidyl methacrylate, and other BPA acrylate-based derivatives have been related to type 2 diabetes, the metabolic syndrome, and obesity, among other metabolic disorders. The objective of this study is to examine the influence of BPA exposure by saliva analysis and daily physical activity on the risk of overweight/obesity in schoolchildren from southern Spain.

METHODS

The study included 300 children (53.5% girls) aged 7-10 years. Participants completed a questionnaire with four sections: participant data, including demographic information and life and family habits; semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire; anthropometric variables; and physical activity variables. All participants underwent dental examination, when the presence of sealants/composites in each tooth and other dental alterations was recorded, and samples of whole saliva were collected for UHPLC-MS/MS analyses.

RESULTS

Risk of overweight/obesity was significantly influenced by body fat composition (OR = 10.77), not walking to and from school (OR = 1.38), lesser energy expenditure in sedentary activities (OR = 12.71), greater energy expenditure in sports (OR =1.62), and exposure to BPA from dental sealants/composites (OR = 1.38; p = 0.058).

DISCUSSION

Further research is warranted on this issue in children, who may be especially vulnerable to the negative health effects of endocrine disruption.

Occurrence and partitioning of bisphenol analogues, triclocarban, and triclosan in seawater and sediment from East China Sea

Bisphenol analogues (BPs), triclocarban (TCC), and triclosan (TCS) are well-known environmental endocrine disrupters. Many studies have characterized their occurrence in the freshwater environment. However, their environmental behaviors in the coastal marine environment remain poorly understood. Here, matched seawater and sediment samples were collected from East China Sea, and analyzed for 13 BPs (including halogenated derivatives of bisphenol A), TCC, and TCS. Bisphenol A (BPA; mean 23 ng/L) was the predominant BP in seawaters, followed by tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA; 2.3 ng/L) and bisphenol S (BPS; 2.2 ng/L). Seawater concentrations of TCS (<LOD-8.7 ng/L) were much higher (p < 0.01) than that of TCC (<LOD-0.33 ng/L). In sediments BPA was still the major BP (mean 13 ng/g dw, dry weight), followed by bisphenol F (1.6 ng/g dw) and BPS (0.69 ng/g dw). All sediment samples contained measurable TCC (0.12-6.6 ng/g dw), while TCS was occasionally detected. For the first time, this study reports the environmental occurrence of bisphenol M and 4,4'-sulfonylbis (2-aminophenol) (a first discovered BPS analogue) in seawaters and sediments. Spatially, inshore seawater and sediment samples contained higher (p < 0.01) BPA and BPS concentrations, compared with offshore samples. The mean log-transformed sediment-seawater partitioning coefficients (log K_oc) ranged from 2.3 (TBBPA) to 4.0 (TCC). The log K_oc values of BPA, BPS, and BPAF were lower than those previously reported in the freshwater environment. Overall, this study provides first data on the spatial distribution patterns and partitioning behaviors of BPs, TCC, and TCS in marine environment.

Recent advances in analysis of bisphenols and their derivatives in biological matrices

Biomonitoring is a very useful tool to evaluate human exposure to endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs), like bisphenols (BPs), which are widely used in the manufacture of plastics. The development of reliable analytical methods is key in the field of public health surveillance to obtain biomonitoring data to determine what BPs are reaching people's bodies. This review discusses recent methods for the quantitative measurement of bisphenols and their derivatives in biological samples like urine, blood, breast milk, saliva, and hair, among others. We also discuss the different procedures commonly used for sample treatment, which includes extraction and clean-up, and instrumental techniques currently used to determine these compounds. Sample preparation techniques continue to play an important role in the analysis of complex matrices, for liquid matrices the most commonly employed is solid-phase extraction, although microextraction techniques are gaining importance in this field, and for solid samples ultrasound-assisted extraction. The main instrumental techniques used are liquid and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Finally, we present data on the main parameters obtained in the validation of the revised methods. This review focuses on various methods developed and applied for trace analysis of bisphenols, their conjugates, halogenated derivatives, and diglycidyl ethers in biological samples to enable the required selectivity and sensitivity. For this purpose, a review is carried out of the most recent relevant publications from 2016 up to present.

Estimation of lactating mothers' daily intakes of bisphenol A using breast milk

Breast milk is a unique biological sample that reflects the exposure levels of both lactating mothers and infants. The exposure levels of BPA due to breast milk consumption for infants can be estimated easily, but the method to estimate the total daily intake (TDI) of lactating mothers from breast milk has not yet been established. In this study, BPA concentrations were detected in breast milk samples from 149 lactating mothers from Hunan, China. The median concentration of BPA in breast milk was 0.053 μg/L with a range of 0.001-2.535 μg/L, and a temporal decline trend was found for BPA concentrations in breast milk (p < 0.05). The median intake of BPA via breast milk was 26.8 ng/kg bw/day for 0-3-month-old infants and 7.0 ng/kg bw/day for 4-12-month-old infants. Based on the predicted concentrations of BPA in urine and blood via the conversion coefficients from breast milk, the TDIs of lactating mothers were estimated. The TDIs estimated from the simulated urine concentration were 84.0 ± 175.2 ng/kg bw/day for 0-3-month-old infants' mothers and 36.9 ± 80.8 ng/kg bw/day for 4-12-month-old infants' mothers. The dietary daily intakes estimated from the simulated blood concentration were 579.6 ± 370.8 ng/kg bw/day for 0-3-month-old infants' mothers and 280.1 ± 195.2 ng/kg bw/day for 4-12-month-old infants' mothers. When assuming the dietary daily intakes in Hunan of the fifth total diet study (TDS) as the "true" total dietary intake of our population, the contribution of diet was estimated to be 63.7%, which suggested that non-dietary BPA exposure may be underestimated.

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.

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.

Discovery of New Protein Targets of BPA Analogs and Derivatives Associated with Noncommunicable Diseases: A Virtual High-Throughput Screening

BACKGROUND

Bisphenol A analogs and derivatives (BPs) have emerged as new contaminants with little or no information about their toxicity. These have been found in numerous everyday products, from thermal paper receipts to plastic containers, and measured in human samples.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this research were to identify in silico new protein targets of BPs associated with seven noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), and to study their protein-ligand interactions using computer-aided tools.

METHODS

Fifty BPs were identified by a literature search and submitted to a virtual high-throughput screening (vHTS) with 328 proteins associated with NCDs. Protein-protein interactions between predicted targets were examined using STRING, and the protocol was validated in terms of binding site recognition and correlation between in silico affinities and in vitro data.

RESULTS

According to the vHTS, several BPs may target proteins associated with NCDs, some of them with stronger affinities than bisphenol A (BPA). The best affinity score (the highest in silico affinity absolute value) was obtained after docking 4,4'-bis(N-carbamoyl-4-methylbenzensulfonamide)diphenylmethane (BTUM) on estradiol 17-beta-dehydrogenase 1 (-13.7 kcal/mol). However, other molecules, such as bisphenol A bis(diphenyl phosphate) (BDP), bisphenol PH (BPPH), and Pergafast 201 also exhibited great affinities (top 10 affinity scores for each disease) with proteins related to NCDs.

DISCUSSION

Molecules such as BTUM, BDP, BPPH, and Pergafast 201 could be targeting key signaling pathways related to NCDs. These BPs should be prioritized for in vitro and in vivo toxicity testing and to further assess their possible role in the development of these diseases. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP7466.

Bisphenol Analogues and Their Chlorinated Derivatives in Breast Milk in China: Occurrence and Exposure Assessment

Concentrations of bisphenol A (BPA) and its analogues (together with their chlorinated derivatives are referred to as BPs) were measured in 181 breastmilk samples collected from 9 provinces in China in 2014. Twelve BP types were found. The BP concentrations ranged from not detected to 5.912 μg/L. BPA was the predominant BP, followed by bisphenol F (BPF) and bisphenol S (BPS). The mean BPA, BPF, and BPS levels were 0.444, 0.107, and 0.027 μg/L, respectively. Other BPs were sporadically detected in breastmilk samples. There were no differences (p > 0.05) in BPA, BPF, BPS, or total BP levels in the urban and rural regions or the northern and southern regions. BPA accounted for approximately 70% of the BPs and BPF accounted for more than 20% of the BPs in breast milk samples. The high contribution of BPF indicated that BPA analogues, not only BPA, should receive attention. The upper-bound daily intakes of BPs for infants 0-6 months old were 0.044-1.291 μg/kg bw/day. Despite the absence of tolerable daily intake data, attention should be paid not only on BPA but also BPF.

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.

Bisphenol A and Its Analogues in Chinese Total Diets: Contaminated Levels and Risk Assessment

Bisphenol A (BPA) and its analogues (BPs) are suspected posing potential endocrine disrupting properties. They might migrate into foodstuffs through food packaging materials or contaminated water and soil. Dietary exposure is of paramount importance way for human health. European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) lowered the value of tolerable daily intake (TDI) from 50 μg/kg bw/day (d) to a temporary (t) TDI (t-TDI) of 4 μg/kg bw/d. In this study, the Chinese total dietary samples were analyzed for assessing the exposure risk of BPs by diets. BPA, bisphenol F (BPF), bisphenol S (BPS), and bisphenol AF (BPAF) were found in 12 kinds of food samples except for bisphenol B (BPB). A deterministic approach was used to calculate the dietary intakes of 4 kinds of compounds. For different age and gender groups, the exposure levels of BPA (178.440-403.672 ng/kg bw/d) was the highest, followed by BPS (21.372-52.112 ng/kg bw/d), BPF (20.641-50.507 ng/kg bw/d), and BPAF (0.434-1.210 ng/kg bw/d). Based on the t-TDI set by EFSA (4 μg/kg bw/d for BPA), the BPs through dietary intake pose low risks on the Chinese general population even summarization exposure levels of different BPs. However, human can be exposed to multiple endocrine disrupting chemicals rather than BPs alone; combined exposure risks should be further considered.

Colorimetric detection and bio-magnification of bisphenol A in fish organs and water sources using 3',6'-bis(diethylamino)-2- ((3,4,5trimethyl benzylidene) amino) spiro [isoindoline -1,9'-xanthen ]-3-one (BTSIXO)-Fe3+ ion conjugate

Current study is focusing mainly on the development of simple, novel, and cost-effective optical sensor to detect and quantify Bisphenol A (BPA) contamination. We designed a very selective and sensitive colorimetric sensor using synthesized 3', 6'- bis(diethylamino) -2- ((3,4,5 trimethyl benzylidene) amino)spiro [isoindoline-1,9'-xanthen] -3-one (BTSIXO) conjugated with Fe³⁺-ions via very simple eco- friendly synthetic protocol. The sensor has an excellent wide detection range for BPA from 0.1 to 150 ppm with LODs of 0.02 ppm. Finally, the applicability of the sensor was demonstrated in fish samples especially in the organs of Oreochromis mossambicus fingerlings and contaminated industrial water samples. The sensor was also applied for the quantification of BPA present drinking water stored in the plastic bottles. The developed sensor has shown a good agreement and accuracy when compared with ESI-Mass techniques.

Transcriptomic analysis of bisphenol AF on early growth and development of zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae

Bisphenol AF (BPAF), an alternative to bisphenol A, is widely detected in aquatic environments. Owing to health concerns, the toxic effects of BPAF on organisms are drawing attention. The present study aims to evaluate the toxicity of BPAF, combining the results of omics techniques and experiment. Employing transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq), we obtained 391, 648, 512, and 545 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in 0.1, 1, 10, and 100 μg/L BPAF-exposed zebrafish larvae, respectively. Gene ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment revealed the early development, stimulus-response, and MAPK signaling pathway were significantly affected by BPAF. In addition, five hub genes (fgf3, fgf4, map2k1, myca, and casp3b) were highlighted as the key genes in MAPK signaling pathway using the protein-protein interaction network. Therefore, the RNA-seq results showed that early development and stimulus-response were the main processes affected by BPAF, which was consistent with our morphological and pathological results. The hatching rate of zebrafish embryos in 1 and 10 μg/L BPAF groups was significantly inhibited, and the oxidative stress indexes, including the level of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and lipid peroxidation (LPO), were significantly increased by the 100 μg/L BPAF treatment. Moreover, the activity of alkaline phosphatase (AKP) was significantly decreased in all BPAF exposure groups. In conclusion, exposure to BPAF at environmental relevant concentrations affected the early development and immune system of zebrafish larvae by modulating MAPK signaling pathway, and our results provide solid evidence for the future studies on the toxicity of bisphenols.

Comparison of DAD and FLD Detection for Identification of Selected Bisphenols in Human Breast Milk Samples and Their Quantitative Analysis by LC-MS/MS

BACKGROUND

Determination of bisphenols released from packaging material is undoubtedly a difficult and tricky task, requiring the chemical analyst to develop an individual approach to obtain reliable analytical information.

OBJECTIVE

QuECHERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe)/dispersive solid-phase extraction (d-SPE) technique and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with modern detection techniques such as diode-array detector (DAD), fluorescence detector (FLD) or tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) for the determination of bisphenols such as bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol S (BPS), bisphenol F (BPF), bisphenol B (BPB), 2-[[4-[2-[4-(Oxiran-2-ylmethoxy)phenyl]propan-2yl]phenoxy] methyl]oxirane (BADGE), 3-[4-[2-[4-(Oxiran-2-ylmethoxy)phenyl]propan-2-yl]phenoxy]propane-1,2-diol (BADGE*H2O), 3-[4-[2-[4-(2,3-Dihydroxypropoxy)phenyl]propan-2-yl]phenoxy]propane-1,2-diol (BADGE*2H2O), 1-Chloro-3-[4-[2-[4-(3-chloro-2-hydroxypropoxy)phenyl] propan-2-yl]phenoxy]propan-2-ol (BADGE*2HCl) in human breast milk samples have been performed.

METHODS

For the analysis of total analytes, prior to the extraction with acetonitrile, a deconjugation step was implemented in a tube by adding 1 mL of the enzymatic solution with the β-Glucuronidase to 5 mL of sample. The mix was homogenized and incubated for 17 h at 37°C. Ten milliliters of acetonitrile, and a QuEChERS salt packet with 4 g anhydrous MgSO4 and 1 g NaCl were added. During the d-SPE step the extract was transferred into tube with 30 mg Z-Sep and 50 mg PSA (and also 150 mg MgSO4 for LC-MS/MS analysis). MeOH-water (20:80, v/v) were added to the dry residue and the extract was reconstituted in 150 µL (25-fold analytes pre-concentration is achieved). Next bisphenols were identified by HPLC-DAD-FLD and quantified by LC-MS/MS equipment.

CONCLUSIONS

During the bisphenols HPLC-DAD-FLD analysis, from 6 min a reinforcement of 15 was used, which allowed analytes to be identified at 750 pg/mL. Application of LC-MS/MS allowed quantification of bisphenols in the range from 2.12 to 116.22 ng/mL in a total 27 human breast milk samples.

HIGHLIGHTS

First QuEChERS/d-SPE coupled with HPLC-DAD-FLD or LC-MS/MS method for the quantification of bisphenols and its analogues in breast milk Faster and cheaper alternative to traditional extraction methods The method was applied for the first biomonitoring of bisphenols and its analogues in breast milk.

Bisphenol analogue concentrations in human breast milk and their associations with postnatal infant growth

Many studies show that bisphenol A (BPA) is widespread in human breast milk. However, the occurrence of other bisphenol analogues (BPs), including bisphenol S (BPS), bisphenol F (BPF), and bisphenol AF (BPAF), in breast milk is still not well known. In this study, breast milk samples were collected from 190 women in Hangzhou, China, with the aims to characterize the occurrence of BPA, BPS, BPF, and BPAF in these samples and to investigate their effects on postnatal growth of infants through breast milk consumption. BPA (mean 2.5 ng/mL, range < LOD-15 ng/mL) was the most abundant BP in breast milk, followed by BPS (0.19 ng/mL, <LOD-1.3 ng/mL) and BPAF (0.092 ng/mL, <LOD-0.58 ng/mL). BPF was not detected in all breast milk samples. We firstly found that breast milk concentrations of BPA were negatively correlated with infant's weight or length gain rate. Daily intakes (DIs) of BPs via the consumption of breast milk were calculated for infants, and the mean DI values were 531 ng/kg/day, 53 ng/kg/day, and 24 ng/kg/day for BPA, BPS, and BPAF, respectively. Overall, this study firstly demonstrats that the lactation exposure to BPA through breast milk consumption may affect the postnatal growth of infants.

Bisphenol AF compromises blood-testis barrier integrity and sperm quality in mice

The profound influence of environmental chemicals on human health including inducing life-threatening gene mutation has been publicly recognized. Being a substitute for the extensively used endocrine-disrupting chemical BPA, Bisphenol AF (BPAF) has been known as teratogen with developmental toxicities and therefore potentially putting human into the risk of biological hazards. Herein, we deciphered the detrimental effects of BPAF on spermatogenesis and spermiotiliosis in sexual maturity of mice exposing to BPAF (5, 20, 50 mg/kg/d) for consecutive 28 days. BPAF exposure significantly compromises blood-testis barrier integrity and sperm quantity and quality in a dose-dependent manner. Sperms from BPAF exposure mice are featured by severe DNA damage, altered SUMOylation and ubiquitination dynamics and interfered epigenetic inheritance with hypermethylation of H3K27me3 presumably due to the aggregation of cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Furthermore, BPAF treatment (50 μM for 24 h) compromises cytoskeleton architecture and tight junction permeability in primary cultured Sertoli cells evidenced by dysfunction of actin regulatory proteins (e.g. Arp3 and Palladin) via activation of ERK signaling, thereby perturbing the privilege microenvironment created by Sertoli cells for spermatogenesis. Overall, our study determines BPAF is deleterious for male fertility, leading to a better appreciation of its toxicological features in our life.

Occurrence and Estrogenic Potency of Bisphenol Analogs in Sewage Sludge from Wastewater Treatment Plants in Central China

Land application is suggested to be the most economical sludge disposal method but is also a potential source of bisphenol analogs (BPs) to the environment. In this study, BP concentrations in sewage sludge from Henan province ranged from 15.1 to 2237 ng g^-1 dw. BPA was dominant with mean concentration of 140 ng g^-1 dw, followed by BPS (mean 43.4 ng g^-1 dw), BPF (mean 7.98 ng g^-1 dw), BPAF (mean 1.04 ng g^-1 dw), BPAP (mean 0.88 ng g^-1 dw), BPB (mean 0.38 ng g^-1 dw), and BPZ (mean 0.33 ng g^-1 dw). Apart from BPB, no significant correlations were found between BPs and wastewater treatment plants characteristics, probably because adsorption does not play a major role in the removal of BPs. The estimated total emission flux of BPs from sludge-amended soils are approximately 62.7 kg year^-1. BPA is the largest contributor with emission flux of 45.3 kg year^-1. Hazard quotient values for BPs in sludge-amended soils are 3-6 orders of magnitude lower than 1 with total 17β-estradiol equivalents ranging from 0.33 to 26.8 pg g^-1 E₂EQ dw. Overall, although being partially replaced by other analogs, BPA is still widely used in Henan province.

Bisphenol A Analogues in Food and Their Hormonal and Obesogenic Effects: A Review

Bisphenol A (BPA) is the most well-known compound from the bisphenol family. As BPA has recently come under pressure, it is being replaced by compounds very similar in structure, but data on the occurrence of these BPA analogues in food and human matrices are limited. The main objective of this work was to investigate human exposure to BPA and analogues and the associated health effects. We performed a literature review of the available research made in humans, in in vivo and in vitro tests. The findings support the idea that exposure to BPA analogues may have an impact on human health, especially in terms of obesity and other adverse health effects in children.