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Updated: Jul 7, 2026

Long-term Behavioral and Reproductive Consequences of Embryonic Exposure to Low-dose Toxicants
Published on: March 6, 2018
Maternal bisphenol-A levels at delivery: a looming problem?
V Padmanabhan1, K Siefert, S Ransom
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0404, USA. vasantha@umich.edu
Objective:
The objective was to determine whether bisphenol-A (BPA) is found in maternal circulation of pregnant women in the US population and is related to gestational length and birth weight.
Method:
Circulating levels of BPA were quantified by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry at delivery in 40 southeastern Michigan mothers and correlated with gestational length and birth weight of offspring.
Result:
Maternal levels of unconjugated BPA ranged between 0.5 and 22.3 ng ml(-1) in southeastern Michigan mothers. There was no correlation between BPA concentrations and gestational length or birth weight of offspring.
Conclusion:
This is the first study to document measurable levels of BPA in maternal blood of the US population. Long-term follow-up studies of offspring are needed to validate or refute concerns over human fetal exposure to synthetic exogenous steroids.
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