Simultaneous determination of bisphenol A and bisphenol B in beverages and powdered infant formula by dispersive liquid–liquid micro-extraction and heart-cutting multidimensional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals from beverage packaging materials and risk assessment for consumers

This study investigated the influence of beverage packaging materials on the presence of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in plastic, glass, carton, aluminium, and tin canned non-alcoholic beverages. Results showed that 63 EDCs including perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), bisphenols, parabens, benzophenone-type UV-filters, biocides, nitrophenols, and alkylphenols, were detected in 144/162 screened products. Detected ∑63EDC concentrations ranged from 1.3 to 19,600 ng/L. EDC concentrations were higher in beverages packaged in metal cans while lower or no levels were detected in glass, plastic, and carton packaged drinks. Bisphenol levels were higher on average in canned beverages compared to glass (p < 0.01) and plastic products (p < 0.05) produced by the same brand and manufacturer. Two structural isomers of bisphenol A (BPA) were identified in 19 beverages, constituting the first detection in foodstuffs. The calculated daily intake of detected EDCs showed that exposure to BPA from per capita beverage consumption of 364 mL/day are up to 2000-fold higher than the newly revised safety guideline for BPA recommended by the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority). Overall, these findings suggest that BPA exposure poses a potential health hazard for individuals who regularly consume non-alcoholic beverages packaged in aluminium or tin cans, particularly young children.

Bisphenol A analogues and metabolic syndrome in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Bisphenols (BPs) have become a chemical group of special interest due to their ability to interfere with the endocrine system and their ubiquitous presence in the environment. As some of them possess mild estrogenic and anti-androgenic effects, they might be associated with the diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Acting on multiple tissues, BPs exposure may lead to metabolic derangements characteristic for metabolic syndrome (MetS). Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the potential relationship between exposure to some BPA analogues and features of the MetS in women with PCOS. Serum BPE, BPC, BPG, BPM, BPP, BPZ, BPFL, and BPBP concentrations did not differ significantly between the PCOS (n = 135) and the control subjects (n = 104). However, women whose serum BPM and BPP concentrations were in the highest tertile were more likely to be diagnosed with PCOS (adjusted OR; [95%CI] 0.43; [0.20; 0.89], P < 0.001 and 0.56; [0.27; 0.96], P = 0.049, consequently). Serum concentrations of BPs were not associated with the MetS diagnosis in the PCOS group. There was a negative correlation between the concentrations of serum BPBP and total serum cholesterol (r = - 0.153; P = 0.019), BPE and serum testosterone (r = - 0.160; P = 0.014) as well as BPC and HDL-cholesterol (r = - 0.138; P = 0.036). There was a positive correlation between the concentrations of BPP and serum triglycerides (r = 0.138; P = 0.036). Our results point to the potential association between exposure to BPM, BPP, and the diagnosis of PCOS, along with the impact of BPBP, BPE, BPC, and BPP on the metabolic features of the MetS.

Teratogenic and neuro-behavioural toxic effects of bisphenol A (BPA) and B (BPB) on Xenopus laevis development

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a plastic additive with endocrine disruptive activity, classified in 2017 by EU ECHA as substance of very high concern. A correlation between environmental exposure to BPA and congenital defects has been described in humans and in experimental species, including the amphibian Xenopus laevis. Among BPA analogues, bisphenol B (BPB) is used as alternative in different not-EU countries, including US, but seems to share with BPA its endocrine disruptor properties. Aim of the present work is the evaluation of the effects of BPB versus BPA exposure in a X. laevis developmental model. A windowed exposure (R-FETAX method) was applied covering the developmental phylotypic period (teratogenicity window), or the late tailbud stages (neuro-behavioural toxicity window, corresponding to the spontaneous swimming acquisition period). Samples were monitored for lethal effects during the full test period. External morphology evaluation and deglutition functional test were applied in any group. Abnormal tadpoles were also processed for cartilage staining. In groups exposed during neuro-behavioural toxicity window the swimming test was also applied. Lethality and malformations were obtained only in samples exposed during the teratogenicity window; these data were modelled using PROAST software and BPB relative potency resulted about 3 times higher than BPA. The day-by-day evaluation revealed that lethality was correlated to embryonic abnormal development of gills and apoptosis in gill primordia. Teratogenicity was never detected in groups exposed during the neuro-behavioural toxicity window, where some significant neuro-behavioural deficits were detected in tadpoles exposed to the highest tested concentrations of BPA and BPB.

Bisphenol A release from food and beverage containers - A review

Dietary exposure was introduced as the primary way Bisphenol A (BPA) enters the human body. Although significant efforts have been made to analyze BPA's presence in different foodstuffs, less attention has been given to introducing the conditions that facilitate BPA release. This review aimed to mention possible factors affecting BPA release into foods and beverages. According to the results, the critical factors in BPA release are temperature, manufacturing process, food and packaging type, pH, mineral elements, repeated use, irradiation, washing, contact time, and using detergents. It showed that using PC containers, high temperature and pH, storage under solar irradiation, alkaline detergents, water hardness, and repeated use could increase the BPA release from containers into foodstuff. During various conditions, hydrolysis of the carbonate linkage and d-spacing will increase. Considering these parameters and limiting the use of PC containers, the potential risk of BPA exposure could be eliminated.

Endocrine modulating chemicals in food packaging: A review of phthalates and bisphenols

Phthalates and bisphenol chemicals have been widely used globally in packaging materials and consumer products for several decades. These highly functional chemicals have become a concern due to their toxicity (i.e., endocrine/hormone modulators) and ability to migrate from food contact materials (FCMs) into food matrices and the environment resulting in human and environmental health risks. FCMs, composed of postconsumer materials, are particularly high risk for containing these compounds. The evaluation of postconsumer recycled feedstocks in FCMs is compulsory and selection of an appropriate detection method to comply with applicable regulations is necessary to evaluate human and environmental safety. Numerous regulations have been proposed and passed globally for both compound classes that are recognized as priority pollutants by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the European Union. Several brand owners and retailers have also released their own "restricted substance lists" due to the mounting consumer and regulatory concerns. This review article has two goals: (1) discuss the utilization, toxicology, human exposure routes, and occurrence levels of phthalates and bisphenols in FCMs and associated legislation in various countries and (2) discuss critical understanding and updates for detection/quantification techniques. Current techniques discussed include extraction and sample preparation methods (solid-phase microextraction [SPME], headspace SPME, Soxhlet procedure, ultrasound-assisted extraction), chromatographic techniques (gas, liquid, detectors), and environmental/blank considerations for quantification. This review complements a previous review of phthalates in foods from 2009 by discussing phthalate and bisphenol characteristics, analytical methods of determining concentrations in packaging materials, and their influence on the migration potential into food.

An indirect method for the analysis of bisphenol A, as a Mn(III)-chelate complex, in milk samples by ultrasound assisted-cloud point extraction/flame atomic absorption spectrometry

A method for indirect determination of bisphenol A (BPA), as a Mn(III)-chelate complex, in milk samples by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) was developed. The method was based on cloud point extraction with ultrasound assistance (UA-CPE). In the pre-concentration step by UA-CPE, the ternary complex selectively formed between BPA and Mn(III)-oxalate at pH 5.0 was extracted into the mixed micellar phase of ionic and nonionic surfactants, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTABr) and polyethylene glycol tert-octylphenyl ether (Triton X-114) as a sensitivity enhancer and extractant. After phase separation by centrifugation, the separated extract was diluted with acidic methanol and analyzed by FAAS. The reproducibility of the signal in the detection step especially at low concentrations was greatly improved by the use of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a stabilizer. Using indirect Mn-responses by FAAS, the main variables affecting the extraction efficiency were evaluated and optimized. Under optimized conditions, the calibration graph was highly linear in the range of 0.8-130 μg L^-1 with limits of detection and quantification of 0.23 and 0.76 μg L^-1, intra- and inter-day precisions in the range of 2.8-5.2% and 3.8-7.2%, and recovery in the range of 94.2-98.5% (10, 25, 100 μg L^-1, n: 5 and 3 × 5). From pre-concentration of a 35 mL sample by UA-CPE, the pre-concentration factor was found to be 70 with a 41-fold sensitivity improvement. The matrix effect was greatly reduced by deproteinization with trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and 20-fold dilution of milk samples before analysis. The method accuracy was checked by analysis of trace BPA in milk samples via a calibration curve in solvent and a matrix-matched calibration curve prepared from sample extracts. The results were in the range of 2.1-7.3 μg L^-1 and 2.0-7.0 μg L^-1 without any matrix effect. According to the Student's t-test, there is not a statistically significant difference between the results found by using the two calibration curves. Finally, it can be concluded that the method is suitable for detecting BPA in milk based products at concentrations far below the specific migration limit (SML) of 600 μg L^-1.

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.

Men´s reproductive alterations caused by bisphenol A and its analogues: a review

Male reproductive functions are an important area affecting men´s overall health and well-being. However, during the last years, there has been observed increasing incidence of male reproductive issues. The radical growth has been recorded parallelly with a massive expanse of industrialization and agricultural chemigation. Many groups of experts have begun to identify several potential factors and substances that may have adverse effects on men´s reproductive health. Since then, xenobiotics have become a major concern of many scientific studies. There is evidence that most of them have multigenerational and transgenerational effects on reproductive health, which is a serious problem for our population. Bisphenol A could be considered as one of the most studied endocrine disruptors. Until now, several negative effects of bisphenol A were associated with reduced weight testes, histological alterations, impairment spermatogenesis, and steroidogenesis as well as with testes or prostate cancer. Due to convincing evidence, bisphenol A has been started to replace by its analogues such as bisphenol B, S, F, in order to eliminate and suppress the risk of exposure to bisphenol A. However, it seems that a lack of toxicological analyses allows using of these hazardous substances in daily life. Their harmful effect was confirmed by the animal in vitro and in vivo models, while the epidemiological studies monitoring the impact of bisphenol analogues on men's reproductive health are markedly limited. This review provides information about the effects of bisphenol on reproductive health in men. At the same time, it is focused on physiological aspects of sperm viability, steroid hormone secretion, sperm motility, or testes histology in relation to bisphenols exposure.

The Role of the Bisphenol A in Diabetes and Obesity

Bisphenol A is a compound commonly found in products meant for daily use. It was one of the first compounds to be identified as an endocrine disruptor that was capable of disrupting the endocrine system and producing very similar effects to those of metabolic syndrome. It has recently gained popularity in the scientific arena as a risk factor for obesity and diabetes due to its ability to imitate natural oestrogens and bind to their receptors. The aim was to study the possible relationship between the Bisphenol A endocrine disruptor with diabetes and obesity. The analysis of the articles allows us to conclude that Bisphenol A is an additional risk factor to consider in the development of diabetes and obesity, since it is capable of stimulating the hypertrophy of adipocytes and altering the endocrine system by mimicking the effects of the oestrogen molecule, since epidemiological studies carried out have suggested that the same disruptions seen in experimental studies on animals can be found in humans; however, despite many countries having developed policies to limit exposure to this disruptor in their populations, there is a lack of international agreement. Understanding its relationship with obesity and diabetes will help to raise awareness in the population and adopt public health campaigns to prevent exposure-especially among young people-to these substances.

Bisphenol A exposure prenatally delays bone development and bone mass accumulation in female rat offspring via the ERβ/HDAC5/TGFβ signaling pathway

Previous studies have suggested that bisphenol A (BPA) has a toxic effect on bone development; however, its pathological mechanism has not been fully elucidated. In the present study, pregnant Wistar rats were intragastrically administered BPA (10 μg/kg per day) during gestational days 14-21. Then, bone tissues were obtained from neonatal rats on postnatal day 1 for histological analysis, and the bone mass of adult rat offspring was analyzed by micro-CT at postnatal week 10. Furthermore, osteoprogenitors from neonatal rats were obtained and treated with various concentrations of BPA in vitro to clarify the associated mechanism. In vivo, we found that prenatal BPA exposure reduced body weight and body length in female neonatal rats but not in male neonatal rats. Meanwhile, BPA exposure during pregnancy delayed bone development and reduced bone mass only in female rat offspring. Moreover, BPA exposure during pregnancy inhibited osteogenic function and downregulated the transforming growth factor β (TGF β) signaling pathway in the bone tissue of female neonatal rats. Our in vitro findings further indicated that various concentrations of BPA suppressed the osteogenic function of osteoprogenitors by downregulating the TGFβ signaling pathway. Meanwhile, BPA downregulated H3K9ac and expression levels of TGFβ via the ERβ/HDAC5 signaling pathway. Collectively, this research revealed that prenatal BPA exposure impairs bone development and bone mass accumulation in female rat offspring, which was attributed to inhibitory osteogenic function via the ERβ/HDAC5/TGFβ signaling pathway.

Environmental exposure to urinary Bisphenol-A in North Indian children aged between 6 and 16 years and its association with body mass index

This study investigates the effect of environmental risk factors among North Indian children aged between 6 and 16 years associated with body mass index by comparing fasting and non-fasting urine Bisphenol-A, urine creatinine, and serum thyroid levels with other potential confounding factors. A total of 301 children were enrolled, and term fasting and non-fasting were used based on the sample collection, either first morning or random. Children were grouped into obese, non-obese, and underweight categories based on age- and gender-specific Centre for Disease Control (CDC) 2000 growth chart and grouped according to their body mass index. The overall mean ± SD (standard deviation) of age (years) was 10.45±2.39 (boys age 10.38±2.38 and girls age 10.45±2.40). Urinary Bisphenol-A concentration (ng/mL ± SD) was higher among obese (2.40±4.70) than non-obese (1.30±1.67) and underweight (1.84±3.46) category children. Higher levels of fasting urinary Bisphenol-A (≥2 ng/mL) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) (≥12.7 μg/dL) were associated with obesity than those of non-fasting children. Being non-fasting among girls at quartile 4 (obese, >2.1800 ng/mL; underweight, >2.1325 ng/mL) had higher odds (obese adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 7.72 (95% CI 0.08-1368.52), underweight adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 12.45 (95% CI 1.55-171.24)] than fasting children. We recommend awareness programs and policy guidelines by engaging teachers and parents for the physical assessment of the presence of Bisphenol-A in food packaging materials to reduce the potential exposure to other chemical migrations sources. Graphical abstract.

Determination of Bisphenol Analogues in Infant Formula Products from India and Evaluating the Health Risk in Infants Asssociated with Their Exposure

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a well-recognized endocrine disruptor, and considering its adverse effects its use in infant bottles has been banned in many countries. Growing concern on the use of BPA has led to its replacement with its analogues in numerous applications. Present is the first report determining the occurrence of seven bisphenols (BPs: BPA, BPAF, BPC, BPE, BPFL, BPS, and BPZ) in Indian infant formula. A reliable and efficient UPLC-MS/MS method for their simultaneous determination was developed and validated in powdered infant formula (n = 68). The limit of quantification of the method was 0.19 ng/g for BPA, BPAF, BPE, BPS and BPZ and 0.78 ng/g for BPC and BPFL. The highest concentration was detected for BPA (mean = 5.46 ng/g) followed by BPZ and BPS. BPAF, BPFL, BPC and BPE were detected in none of the samples. The estimated daily intake (EDI) of total BPs in infants (0-12 months old infants) was determined to be 54.33-213.36 ng/kg b.w./day. BPA mainly contributed to the total intake (EDI = 92.76 ng/kg b.w./day). The dietary exposure to total BPs evaluated in the present study was approximately 1 order of magnitude lower than the reference value of BPA set by EFSA (4 μg/kg b.w./day) and, thus, may not pose considerable risks to infants.

Comprehensive supramolecular solvent-based sample treatment platform for evaluation of combined exposure to mixtures of bisphenols and derivatives by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

The growing demand for a better understanding of the effects of chemical mixtures on human health has fostered the need for extensive estimation of uptake rates from identified sources and/or biomonitoring, which has encouraged the development of analyte- and matrix-independent analytical methods. In this paper, we report a comprehensive sample treatment platform for the efficient extraction and interference removal in the determination of twenty-one bisphenols and derivatives (log K_ow from 1.254 to 6.564) in a variety of human exposure sources and biological fluids. Treatment of both liquid (canned beverages, urine and serum) and solid (canned food, dust) samples was based on the use of low volumes (190-200 μL) of a hexanol-based supramolecular solvent having properties of restricted access materials. The efficient extraction of bisphenol and derivatives (absolute recoveries 70-114%) was due to the mixed-mode mechanisms (hydrogen bonding, polar and dispersion interactions) and the huge number of binding sites offered by the supramolecular solvent with properties of restricted access materials for solute solubilization. Signal suppression or enhancement (SSE) values kept in the range 78-116% for samples encompassing a wide range of macromolecules content (e.g. protein, fat, carbohydrates, etc.). Quantification was carried out by liquid chromatography, electrospray tandem mass spectrometry using external calibration. Method quantitation limits for bisphenols in liquid and solid samples were in the interval 0.019-0.19 μg L^-1 and 0.06-0.81 μg kg^-1. The method was applied to the determination of bisphenols and derivatives in thirteen human exposure sources and biological fluids. Only four bisphenols out of twenty-one were not found in the analyzed samples. This supramolecular solvent-based bisphenol- and matrix-independent method constitutes a valuable strategy in terms of analytical and operational characteristics for the assessment of human exposure to mixtures of bisphenols and derivatives.

Application of chromatographic analysis for detecting components from polymeric can coatings and further determination in beverage samples

Major type of internal can coating used for food and beverages is made from epoxy resins, which contain among their components bisphenol A (BPA) or bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE). These components can be released and contaminate the food or beverage. There is no specific European legislation for coatings, but there is legislation on specific substances setting migration limits. Many investigations have paid attention to BPA due to its classification as endocrine disruptor, however, few studies are available concerning to other bisphenol analogues that have been used in the manufacture of these resins. To evaluate the presence of this family of compounds, ten cans of beverages were taken as study samples. Firstly, the type of coating was verified using an attenuated total reflectance-FTIR spectrometer to check the type of coating presents in most of the samples examined. A screening method was also performed to investigate potential volatiles from polymeric can coatings of beverages using Purge and Trap (P&T) technique coupled to gas chromatography with mass spectrometry detection (GC-MS). Moreover, a selective analytical method based on high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD) for the simultaneous identification and quantification of thirteen compounds including bisphenol analogues (BPA, BPB, BPC, BPE, BPF, BPG) and BADGEs (BADGE, BADGE.H₂O, BADGE.2H₂O, BADGE.HCl, BADGE.2HCl, BADGE.H2O.HCl, cyclo-di-BADGE) in the polymeric can coatings and in the beverage samples was applied. In addition, a liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was optimized for confirmation purposes. The method showed an adequate linearity (R² >0.9994) and low detection levels down to 5 µg/L. Cyclo-di-BADGE was detected in all extracts of polymeric coatings. The concentrations ranged from 0.004 to 0.60 mg/dm². No detectable amounts of bisphenol related compounds were found in any of the beverage samples at levels that may pose a risk to human health, suggesting a low intake of bisphenols from beverages.

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.

Bisphenol B Exposure Disrupts Mouse Oocyte Meiotic Maturation in vitro Through Affecting Spindle Assembly and Chromosome Alignment

Bisphenol B (BPB), a substitute of bisphenol A (BPA), is widely used in the polycarbonate plastic and resins production. However, BPB proved to be not a safe alternative to BPA, and as an endocrine disruptor, it can harm the health of humans and animals. In the present study, we explored the effects of BPB on mouse oocyte meiotic maturation in vitro. We found that 150 μM of BPB significantly compromised the first polar body extrusion (PBE) and disrupted the cell cycle progression with meiotic arrest. The spindle assembly and chromosome alignment were disordered after BPB exposure, which was further demonstrated by the aberrant localization of p-MAPK. Also, BPB exposure increased the acetylation levels of α-tubulin. As a result, the spindle assemble checkpoint (SAC) was continuously provoked, contributing to meiotic arrest. We further demonstrated that BPB severely induced DNA damage, but the ROS and ATP production were not altered. Furthermore, the epigenetic modifications were changed after BPB exposure, as indicated by increased K3K9me3 and H3K27me3 levels. Besides, the pattern of estrogen receptor α (ERα) dynamics was disrupted with a mass gathering on the spindle in BPB-exposed oocytes. Our collective results indicated that exposure to BPB compromised meiotic maturation and damaged oocyte quality by affecting spindle assembly and chromosome alignment, acetylation of α-tubulin, DNA damage, epigenetic modifications, and ERα dynamics in mouse oocytes.

Multivariate optimization of low-temperature cleanup followed by dispersive solid-phase extraction for detection of Bisphenol A and benzophenones in infant formula

A simple and effective analytical method to determine six contaminants, including five benzophenones (BP, BP-1, BP-3, BP-8, and BP-12) and bisphenol A (BPA) in infant formulas was developed in this study. For this, a sequential experimental design was used to optimize the extraction and cleanup method using low temperature partition (LTP) combined with dispersive solid phase extraction (dSPE). The effect of primary secondary amine (PSA), sodium chloride (NaCl), graphitized carbon black (GCB), octadecyl (C18), strong anion exchanger (SAX), water, acetonitrile (ACN) and, ultrasound (US) time were evaluated using a sequential design of experiments including a Plackett-Burman, a central composite rotatable design, and the Derringer and Suich's tool. The method was validated, and it showed a limit of quantification varying from 0.06 to 2 mg.kg^-1, good precision (< 20% RSD), and recovery (52-106%). The method proposed was applied to twenty-five samples of commercial infant formulas.

Amperometric Cytosensor for Studying Mitochondrial Interferences Induced by Plasticizers Bisphenol B and Bisphenol A

The widespread presence of plasticizers Bisphenol B (BPB) and Bisphenol A (BPA) in food contact materials, medical equipment, and common household products is a toxicological risk factor for health due to internal exposure after environmental dietary exposure. This work describes the use of an amperometric cytosensor (i.e., a whole cell-based amperometric biosensoristic device) for studying mitochondrial interferences of BPA and BPB (5-100 µg/mL) in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae model following long-term (24 h) exposure (acute toxicity). Percentage interference (%ρ) on yeast aerobic mitochondrial catabolism was calculated after comparison of aerobic respiration of exposed and control S. cerevisiae cell suspensions. Results suggested the hypothesis of a dose-dependent co-action of two mechanisms, namely uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation and oxidative stress. These mechanisms respectively matched with opposite effects of hyperstimulation and inhibition of cellular respiration. While uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation and oxidative stress have been previously described as separate effects from in vitro BPA exposure using other biochemical endpoints and biological systems, effects of BPB on cellular aerobic respiration are here reported for the first time. Results highlighted a similar hyperstimulation effect after exposure to 5 µg/mL BPA and BPB. About a 2-fold higher cellular respiration inhibition potency was observed after exposures to 15, 30, and 100 µg/mL BPB compared to BPA. 2,4-Dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP) was used as model uncoupling agent. A time-dependent mechanism of mitochondrial interference was also highlighted.

Novel computer-assisted separation prediction strategy for online-enrichment-HPLC-FLD in simultaneous monitoring of bisphenols in children's water bottles

An on-line enrichment-liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection (LC-FD) method was developed for simultaneous determination of nine bisphenols (BPs). In this process, we predicted the separation based on an in-house developed software allowing for calculating both retention time (t_R) and half-peak width (W_1/2) of the solute by mobile phase fraction (φ) under gradient conditions. The proposed strategy was applied to separation prediction of BPs with high accuracy. Under the optimized conditions, good linearity was obtained with the correlation coefficients (R²) ranging from 0.998 to 1.000. The recoveries in spiked samples were 91.3-110.7% with the intra-day and inter-day relative standard deviation ranging 0.4-9.6% and 0.5-10.2%, respectively. The limits of detection and quantification were 0.13-66.7 ng L^-1 and 0.40-200 ng L^-1. The developed approach was used to monitor the nine BPs in 28 children's water bottles. The developed method provides an effective way for monitoring bisphenols in other similar matrix.

Bisphenols B, E, F, and S and 4-cumylphenol induce lipid accumulation in mouse adipocytes similarly to bisphenol A

Bisphenol A (BPA) has been widely reported to exert endocrine disrupting effects, including the induction of adipogenesis in cultured preadipocytes and intact animals. Because of the potential harm to human health, BPA is being substituted by structurally related bisphenols. Whether or not such BPA analogues are safe substitutes, however, remains largely unknown. Here, we investigated the potential of bisphenol B (BPB), bisphenol E (BPE), bisphenol F (BPF), bisphenol S (BPS), and 4-cumylphenol (4-CP) to affect lipid and hormone levels in 3 T3-L1 cells. We found that BPB, BPE, BPF, BPS, and 4-CP all affected lipid accumulation and leptin levels to the same extent and potencies as BPA. Based on these and other results, we conclude that these BPA analogues and 4-CP most likely will elicit similar effects on adipocytes as BPA. Using them to substitute BPA in products should be done with caution.

Acute and sub-acute bisphenol-B exposures adversely affect sperm count and quality in adolescent male mice

Bisphenol-B (BPB), an analogue of bisphenol-A is used in the plastic industry. It has been found to leach from plastic containers leading to its contamination in canned food products. Moreover, it has also been detected in human samples such as sera and urine. BPB is recognized as a potential endocrine disrupting chemical owing to its estrogenic and anti-androgenic nature. Therefore, it was pertinent to study the effect of BPB exposure during the adolescence age (5-6 weeks old) in male mice. Weekly intraperitoneal injections of 5, 10 and 15% LD₅₀ of BPB were given for 2 weeks to acute exposure groups and for 4 weeks to sub-acute exposure groups. BPB exposure induces change in enzymatic and non-enzymatic oxidative stress markers in sperm samples. DNA damage was also observed in sperm cells on acute and sub-acute exposures. Furthermore, BPB exposure led to a marked decline in sperm count and compromised sperm morphology. Computer assisted sperm analysis (CASA) revealed a significant decrease in sperm quality and progressive motility. Thus, both the acute and sub-acute exposures of adolescent male mice to BPB adversely affect the sperms' quality, functions and morphology.

Bisphenol-A (BPA) in Foods commonly consumed in Southwest Nigeria and its Human Health Risk

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a synthetic chemical ubiquitous in the environment and listed as an endocrine disruptor. It has the tendency of migrating into food stored in materials containing it. This study, therefore, determines the concentrations of BPA in foods commonly consumed in Southwest Nigeria by the adult population and also estimates the risk associated with human exposure. Eight different food categories were selected for this study. Standard QuEChERS protocol was used for sample extraction and analysed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Vegetable oil had the highest BPA concentration (28.4 ng/g). This was followed by aquatic canned fish (26.3 ng/g), canned beef (21.3 ng/g) and crayfish (17.5 ng/g). These concentrations were below the 600 ng/g limit of the European Commission for BPA in foods. Bisphenol-A was not detected in raw beef, chicken, cheese, apple, tomatoes, beans and rice; and chicken eggs. The adult population had an average dietary intake of 30.4 ng/kg bw/day. There is no likely occurrence of harmful health effects of BPA in the selected foods with respect to the current concentrations found therein. However, routine monitoring is recommended to prevent human exposure to BPA.

Evidence for Bisphenol B Endocrine Properties: Scientific and Regulatory Perspectives

BACKGROUND

The substitution of bisphenol A (BPA) by bisphenol B (BPB), a very close structural analog, stresses the need to assess its potential endocrine properties.

OBJECTIVE

This analysis aimed to investigate whether BPB has endocrine disruptive properties in humans and in wildlife as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) definition used in the regulatory field, that is, a) adverse effects, b) endocrine activity, and c) plausible mechanistic links between the observed endocrine activity and adverse effects.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review to identify BPB adverse effects and endocrine activities by focusing on animal models and in vitro mechanistic studies. The results were grouped by modality (estrogenic, androgenic, thyroid hormone, steroidogenesis-related, or other endocrine activities). After critical analysis of results, lines of evidence were built using a weight-of-evidence approach to establish a biologically plausible link. In addition, the ratio of BPA to BPB potency was reported from studies investigating both bisphenols.

RESULTS

Among the 36 articles included in the analysis, 3 subchronic studies consistently reported effects of BPB on reproductive function. In rats, the 28-d and 48-week studies showed alteration of spermatogenesis associated with a lower height of the seminiferous tubules, the alteration of several sperm parameters, and a weight loss for the testis, epididymis, and seminal vesicles. In zebrafish, the results of a 21-d reproductive study demonstrated that exposed fish had a lower egg production and a lower hatching rate and viability. The in vitro and in vivo mechanistic data consistently demonstrated BPB's capacity to decrease testosterone production and to exert an estrogenic-like activity similar to or greater than BPA's, both pathways being potentially responsible for spermatogenesis impairment in rats and fish.

CONCLUSION

The available in vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro data, although limited, coherently indicates that BPB meets the WHO definition of an endocrine disrupting chemical currently used in a regulatory context. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP5200.

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.

A scoping review of the health and toxicological activity of bisphenol A (BPA) structural analogues and functional alternatives

Recent studies report widespread usage or exposure to a variety of chemicals with structural or functional similarity to bisphenol A (BPA), referred to as BPA analogues or derivatives. These have been detected in foodstuffs, house dust, environmental samples, human urine or blood, and consumer products. Compared to BPA, relatively little is known about potential toxicity of these compounds. This scoping review aimed to summarize the human, animal, and mechanistic toxicity data for 24 BPA analogues of emerging interest to research and regulatory communities. PubMed was searched from March 1, 2015 to January 5, 2019 and combined with the results obtained from literature searches conducted through March 23, 2015, in The National Toxicology Program's Research Report 4 (NTP RR-04), "Biological Activity of Bisphenol A (BPA) Structural Analogues and Functional Alternatives". Study details are presented in interactive displays using Tableau Public. In total, 5748 records were screened for inclusion. One hundred sixty seven studies were included from NTP RR-04 and 175 studies were included from the updated literature search through January 2019. In total, there are 22, 117, and 221 human epidemiological, experimental animal, or in vitro studies included. The most frequently studied BPA analogues are bisphenol S (BPS), bisphenol F (4,4-BPF), and bisphenol AF (BPAF). Notable changes in the literature since 2015 include the growing body of human epidemiological studies and in vivo studies conducted in zebrafish. Numerous new endpoints were also evaluated across all three evidence streams including diabetes, obesity, and oxidative stress. However, few studies have addressed endpoints such as neurodevelopmental outcomes or impacts on the developing mammary or prostate glands, which are known to be susceptible to disruption by BPA. Further, there remains a critical need for better exposure information in order to prioritize experimental studies. Moving forward, researchers should also ensure that full dose responses are performed for all main effects in order to support hazard and risk characterization efforts. The evidence gathered here suggests that hazard and risk characterizations should expand beyond BPA in order to consider BPA structural and functional analogues.

Several environmental endocrine disruptors in beverages from South China: occurrence and human exposure

Environmental endocrine disruptors (EEDs) in beverages may enter the human body by ingestion and thus may represent a potential health risk. In this study, phthalates, bisphenol A, and its analogues, parabens, benzophenone-type UV filters, and triclosan (TCS) were analyzed in beverage samples (n = 116) collected from local markets in Guangzhou, South China. Twelve of 30 target compounds were found in > 50% samples, and for the first time, TCS was found in a majority of beverages from China (~ 80%). Among all analytes, concentrations of total phthalates (median = 14.4 ng/mL) were generally two orders of magnitude higher than other target EEDs, and concentrations of total benzophenone-type UV filters (0.02 ng/mL) and TCS (0.01 ng/mL) were the lowest. Among all targets, phthalates were predominant, accounting for > 99% of the total EEDs, and dimethyl phthalate was frequently detected in beverages (> 60%). In addition, we estimated the daily intake (EDI) of EEDs for Chinese populations of different age groups based on the daily consumption of beverages. The EDIs of total EEDs were the highest for toddlers (mean = 14,200 ng/kg-bw/day) followed by children and teenagers (3420 ng/kg-bw/day), adults (1950 ng/kg-bw/day), the elderly (1740 ng/kg-bw/day), and infants (70 ng/kg-bw/day). Compared to all food categories, EEDs from beverage consumption accounted for ~ 0.1% (parabens) to 20% (phthalates) of total exposure from diet. However, intakes of phthalates, bisphenols, and TCS from beverages were comparable to those from other potential sources (food, dust, personal care products, cloth, and medicines). Furthermore, the cumulative risks of EEDs by beverage consumption were not high, which indicated that EEDs in beverages might not represent a potential human health risk for Chinese populations.

Early-life intake of major trace elements, bisphenol A, tetrabromobisphenol A and fatty acids: Comparing human milk and commercial infant formulas

In the present study, the presence of a wide spectrum of major and trace elements (As, Ag, Al, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Sr, Sb, Se, Sn, Pb, V, and Zn), fatty acids, as well as some pollutants like free and total BPA and tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), was analysed in human milk (n = 53) and infant formula (n = 50) samples. In addition, the infant exposure to these chemicals was assessed. The content of free BPA and several elements (Al, Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Sn, Sr, and Zn) was higher (p < 0.01) in infant formula samples. Furthermore, human milk contained levels of BPA and elements that, in almost all cases, were well below their respective EFSA and/or WHO thresholds, being also independent of the maternal characteristics (e.g., age, BMI or breastfeeding period). The fatty acid profiling also revealed major differences between human milk and infant formulas, which should be taken in account in the development of new formulas as well as in specific recommendations for the diet of breastfeeding mothers. Anyway, the results of this study reinforce that breastfeeding should be always the first feeding option in early life.

Association between bisphenol a exposure and idiopathic central precocious puberty (ICPP) among school-aged girls in Shanghai, China

BACKGROUND

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a well-known and widely used endocrine disrupter, but data on its association with childhood reproductive development are limited.

OBJECTIVES

We investigated the possible relationship between exposure to BPA and idiopathic central precocious puberty (ICPP) in school-aged girls.

METHODS

We conducted a 1:1 matched case-control study in Shanghai, China, between July 2011 and September 2012. This study included 136 school-aged (6 to 9 years old) girls diagnosed with ICPP and 136 controls matched for age and body mass index (BMI). We measured the urinary BPA concentrations of all the girls and examined the association with odds of having ICPP. Laboratory examinations including serum estradiol (E2) levels, basal and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-stimulated luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels, bone ages (BA), and uterine and ovarian sizes were conducted in the ICPP girls.

RESULTS

Median concentrations of urinary BPA in the ICPP and control groups were 6.35 and 1.17 μg/g creatinine (Cr), respectively (p < 0.001). After adjustment for confounders, compared to those with the lowest concentrations of BPA, the highest concentrations were associated with a 9.08-fold increased odds of having ICPP [odds ratio (OR) = 9.08, (95% confidence interval (CI): 2.83-29.15)]. In the ICPP group, modest negative correlation was present between urinary BPA concentrations (μg/g Cr) and peak FSH levels [β = -0.090 (95% CI: -0.178, -0.003), p = 0.044].

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that BPA exposure is associated with increased odds of having ICPP in school-aged girls, and the potential mechanism may be attributable to the relatively low FSH levels.

Exposure assessment to bisphenol A (BPA) in Portuguese children by human biomonitoring

Exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) is known to be widespread and available data suggests that BPA can act as an endocrine disruptor. Diet is generally regarded as the dominant BPA exposure source, namely through leaching to food from packaging materials. The aim of this study was to evaluate the exposure of 110 Portuguese children (4-18 years old), divided in two groups: the regular diet group (n = 43) comprised healthy normal weight/underweight children with no dietary control; the healthy diet group (n = 67) comprised children diagnosed for obesity/overweight (without other known associated diseases) that were set on a healthy diet for weight control. First morning urine samples were collected and total urinary BPA was analyzed after enzymatic hydrolysis via on-line HPLC-MS/MS with isotope dilution quantification. Virtually, all the children were exposed to BPA, with 91% of the samples above the LOQ (limit of quantification) of 0.1 μg/L. The median (95th percentile) urinary BPA levels for non-normalized and creatinine-corrected values were 1.89 μg/L (16.0) and 1.92 μg/g creatinine (14.4), respectively. BPA levels in the regular diet group were higher than in the healthy diet group, but differences were not significant. Calculated daily BPA intakes, however, were significantly higher in children of the regular diet group than in children of healthy diet group. Median (95th percentile) daily intakes amounted to 41.6 (467) ng/kg body weight/day in the regular diet group, and 23.2 (197) ng/kg body weight/day in the healthy diet group. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that children in the healthy diet group had 33% lower intakes than children in the regular diet group (OR 0.67; 95% CI 0.51-0.89). For both groups, however, urinary BPA levels and daily BPA intakes were within the range reported for other children's populations and were well below health guidance values such as the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) temporary tolerable daily intake (t-TDI) of 4 μg/kg body weight/day. In addition, lower daily BPA intakes were more likely linked with the inherent dietary approach rather than with high BMI or obesity.

Binding modes of environmental endocrine disruptors to human serum albumin: insights from STD-NMR, ITC, spectroscopic and molecular docking studies

Given that bisphenols have an endocrine-disrupting effect on human bodies, thoroughly exposing their potential effects at the molecular level is important. Saturation transfer difference (STD) NMR-based binding studies were performed to investigate the binding potential of two bisphenol representatives, namely, bisphenol B (BPB) and bisphenol E (BPE), toward human serum albumin (HSA). The relative STD (%) suggested that BPB and BPE show similar binding modes and orientations, in which the phenolic rings were spatially close to HSA binding site. ITC analysis results showed that BPB and BPE were bound to HSA with moderately strong binding affinity through electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonds. The order of binding affinity of HSA for two test bisphenols is as follows: BPE > BPB. The results of fluorescence competitive experiments using 5-dimethylaminonaphthalene-1-sulfonamide and dansylsarcosine as competitors, combined with molecular docking indicated that both bisphenols are prone to attach to the binding site II in HSA. Spectroscopic results (FT-IR, CD, synchronous and 3D fluorescence spectra) showed that BPB/BPE induces different degrees of microenvironmental and conformational changes to HSA.