Maternal and infant exposure to environmental phenols as measured in multiple biological matrices
- DOI
- Language of the publication
- English
- Date
- 2014-12-04
- Type
- Article
- Author(s)
- Arbuckle, Tye E.
- Weiss, Lorelle
- Fisher, Mandy
- Hauser, Russ
- Dumas, Pierre
- Bérubé, René
- Neisa, Angelica
- LeBlanc, Alain
- Lang, Carly
- Ayotte, Pierre
- Walker, Mark
- Feeley, Mark
- Koniecki, Diane
- Tawagi, George
- Publisher
- Elsevier
Abstract
Background Results of recent national surveys have shown the high prevalence of exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) and triclosan (TCS) among the general population; however biomonitoring data for pregnant women and infants are limited. Methods Women (n = 80) were recruited from early prenatal clinics and asked to collect urine samples multiple times during pregnancy and once 2–3 months post-partum. Samples of infant urine and meconium as well as breast milk and infant formula were also collected. Biospecimens were analyzed by GC–MS/MS for BPA, TCS and triclocarban (TCC). Results Triclosan was detected in over 80% of the maternal urines (geometric mean (GM): 21.61 μg/L), 60% of the infant urines (GM: 2.8 μg/L), 46% of the breast milk and 80% of the meconium samples. Triclocarban was rarely detected in any of the biospecimens. Median total BPA concentrations were 1.21 and 0.24 μg/L in maternal and infant urines, respectively. Free BPA was detected in only 11% of infant urine samples. The meconium of female infants had significantly higher concentrations of total BPA and TCS than those of males, while no differences were observed in infant urine concentrations by sex. Conclusions We found widespread exposure among pregnant women and infants to environmental phenols, with large inter-individual variability in exposure to triclosan. These data will contribute to the risk assessment of these chemicals, especially in susceptible sub-populations.
Plain language summary
Results of recent national surveys have shown the high prevalence of exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) and triclosan among the general population; however, biomonitoring data for pregnant women and infants are limited. BPA is an industrial chemical that has been used in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastics and in paperboard packaging, adhesives, and thermal receipts and is also found in epoxy resins used to line metal food and beverage cans. Triclosan is used to preserve materials such as textiles, leather, paper, plastic and rubber and as an anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agent in a number of cosmetics and personal care consumer products including non-prescription drugs and natural health products. Health Canada conducted this study in order to measure exposure of pregnant women and their infants to these chemicals. Eighty women were recruited from early prenatal clinics and asked to collect urine samples multiple times during pregnancy and once 2 – 3 months post-partum. Samples of infant urine and meconium (baby’s first stools) as well as breast milk and infant formula were also collected. These samples were analysed for BPA and triclosan. Triclosan was detected in over 80% of the maternal urines, 60 % of the infant urines, 46% of the breast milk and 80% of the meconium samples. BPA was detected in about 90% of the maternal urine samples and only 40% of the infant urine samples. As expected, given the widespread use of the chemicals, this study found that most of the women had some exposure to these chemicals. Large differences in the concentrations of triclosan measured were observed between women in the study. The results will be used to fill gaps in the knowledge about exposure to these chemicals that will help more fully assess their potential health risks.
Subject
- Health,
- Health and safety