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Urinary Bisphenol A Levels during Pregnancy and Risk of Preterm Birth

David E Cantonwine1, Kelly K Ferguson, Bhramar Mukherjee

  • 1Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Environmental Health Perspectives
|March 28, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Urinary bisphenol A (BPA) exposure during pregnancy showed no overall link to preterm birth (PTB). However, higher BPA levels late in pregnancy were associated with spontaneous PTB, particularly in female infants.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Reproductive Epidemiology
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Preterm birth (PTB) is a major cause of infant mortality with complex origins.
  • The impact of environmental contaminants like bisphenol A (BPA) on PTB is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between BPA exposure levels measured longitudinally during pregnancy and the risk of PTB.
  • To explore potential differences in this association based on clinical classifications of PTB and infant sex.

Main Methods:

  • A nested case-control study utilized urine samples from a prospective birth cohort (2006-2008).
  • BPA concentrations were measured at least three times during pregnancy in 130 PTB cases and 352 controls.
  • PTB was classified as spontaneous or placental based on clinical indicators.

Main Results:

  • Overall urinary BPA concentrations did not significantly differ between PTB cases and controls.
  • Averaged BPA levels across pregnancy were not significantly associated with PTB.
  • Elevated BPA levels late in pregnancy were linked to increased odds of spontaneous PTB.
  • Averaged BPA exposure was associated with higher PTB odds in female infants, but not males.

Conclusions:

  • The study found limited evidence for a direct relationship between BPA and PTB overall.
  • Further research is suggested due to potential associations in specific PTB subtypes and female infants, and limitations like sample size.
Abstract

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