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Associations between pediatric intensive care procedures and urinary free-BPA levels
Ganime Ayar1, Sıddıka Songül Yalçın2, Anıl Yırün3
1Ministry of Health, Ankara City Hospital, Children's Hospital, Bilkent, Ankara, Turkey.
Insights
Urinary free Bisphenol A (BPA) levels in children were higher with certain medical procedures in the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Exposure to medical devices significantly impacted BPA levels, highlighting potential risks in critical care settings.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Toxicology
- Pediatric Critical Care
Background:
- Bisphenol A (BPA) is prevalent in medical materials within paediatric intensive care units (PICUs).
- Understanding BPA exposure is crucial for vulnerable pediatric populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between urinary free-BPA (fBPA) and total-BPA (tBPA) levels and medical device use in PICU patients.
- To quantify BPA exposure in relation to specific medical procedures.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study involving 40 children in a PICU.
- Collection of urine samples at multiple time points (day 1, day 7, day 30/discharge).
- Quantification of urinary tBPA and fBPA using high-pressure liquid chromatography and statistical analysis with generalized estimating equations.
Main Results:
- Mean urinary tBPA and fBPA levels were 189.2 and 27.8 μg/g-creatinine, respectively.
- Procedures like endotracheal intubation, catheterization, and hemodialysis correlated with elevated urinary fBPA.
- Increased use of medical devices (≥4) and specific treatments (inhalers, drains) were linked to higher fBPA percentages.
Conclusions:
- Urinary fBPA levels and the fBPA/tBPA ratio are indicative of procedural exposure in pediatric patients.
- Medical device usage in the PICU influences BPA exposure levels in children.
Background:
Bisphenol A (BPA) is found in many medical materials used in the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Our aim was to evaluate how the urinary free-BPA(fBPA) and total-BPA(tBPA) levels were associated with the use of medical devices in the PICU in a prospective study.
Methods:
The procedures applied to the patient were recorded during the follow-up period. Three urine samples were taken on the first day of hospitalization; the seventh day, and after 30 days or when the patients were discharged. Urinary tBPA and fBPA levels were determined using high-pressure liquid chromatography. Generalized estimating equations with repetitive measures were used to determine the associations between PICU procedures and BPA levels.
Results:
A total of 115 urine samples of 40 children were studied. Mean urinary levels were 189.2 μg/g-creatinine for tBPA and 27.8 μg/g-creatinine for fBPA, and the fBPA/tBPA ratio was 27.9%. Endotracheal intubation, catheter, and haemodialysis procedures caused higher urinary fBPA levels. External drains, inhaler treatment, and the use of four or more medical devices were associated with considerably higher values of fBPA%. The increase in tBPA was positively correlated with fBPA.
Conclusions:
fBPA levels and the fBPA/tBPA ratio varied according to the procedure and level of BPA exposure in children.
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