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Bisphenol A levels in human urine.
Akiko Matsumoto1, Naoki Kunugita, Kyoko Kitagawa
1Department of Environmental Health, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyusyu, Japan.
Environmental Health Perspectives
|January 8, 2003
Summary
Urinary bisphenol A (BPA) levels were higher in students in 1992 compared to 1999. BPA levels correlated with coffee and tea intake in 1992, possibly due to changes in can coatings.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Analytical Chemistry
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Bisphenol A (BPA) is a known endocrine disruptor with reported estrogenic effects.
- Controversy exists regarding BPA's in vivo effects and human exposure levels.
- Assessing human exposure and its correlates is crucial for understanding health risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and apply an analytical method for quantifying BPA and its conjugate in human urine.
- To investigate temporal trends in urinary BPA levels in student populations.
- To explore correlations between BPA levels and lifestyle factors like beverage consumption.
Main Methods:
- Development of a high-performance liquid chromatography/fluorescence method for BPA analysis.
- Collection of urine samples and lifestyle data (smoking, alcohol, coffee/tea) from two student cohorts (1992 and 1999).
- Statistical analysis to compare BPA levels between cohorts and correlate them with consumption habits.
Main Results:
- Urinary BPA levels were significantly higher in the 1992 cohort compared to the 1999 cohort.
- A positive correlation between BPA levels and coffee/tea consumption was observed in the 1992 cohort only.
- No significant correlation was found between BPA levels and smoking or alcohol intake in either cohort.
Conclusions:
- Urinary BPA levels in university students have decreased over time.
- Beverage consumption, particularly coffee and tea, may be a source of BPA exposure.
- Changes in food packaging, such as can coatings, may have contributed to the observed decrease in BPA levels.