Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Original Article
  • Published:

Racial disparity in maternal and fetal-cord bisphenol A concentrations

Journal of Perinatology volume 32, pages 844–850 (2012)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective:

To determine if racial disparities exist in maternal and fetal cord serum concentrations of bisphenol A (BPA).

Study Design:

A nested cross-sectional study was performed from a cohort of 600 term nulliparas. In 27 patients (8 Caucasian, 8 African-American and 11 Hispanic), term pre-labor maternal serum and corresponding fetal-cord serum were analyzed for BPA.

Result:

African-Americans had the highest maternal serum concentrations, 10-fold higher than Caucasians (30.13 vs 3.14 ng ml−1; P=0.038). Hispanics had intermediate concentrations with a trend towards higher concentrations compared with Caucasians (24.46 vs 3.14 ng ml−1; P=0.051). Overall concentrations were 10-fold higher in maternal samples than fetal samples (14.1 vs 1.3 ng ml−1; P=0.001). Hispanics had higher fetal concentrations than non-Hispanics (2.05 vs 0.35 ng ml−1; P=0.025).

Conclusion:

We found significant racial/ethnic differences in maternal/fetal BPA concentrations. Further study is needed to determine if these differences reflect disparities in exposure, metabolism or placental transfer.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Calafat AM, Ye X, Wong LY, Reidy JA, Needham LL . Exposure of the U.S. population to bisphenol A and 4-tertiary-octylphenol: 2003–2004. Environ Health Perspect 2008; 116: 39–44.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Woodruff TJ, Zota AR, Schwartz JM . Environmental chemicals in pregnant women in the US: NHANES 2003–2004. Environ Health Perspect 2011; 119: 878–885.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. Maffini MV, Rubin BS, Sonnenschein C, Soto AM . Endocrine disrupters and reproductive health: the case of bisphenol A. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2006; 254–255: 179–186.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Gupta MS . Reproductive malformation of the male offspring following maternal exposure to estrogenic chemicals. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 2000; 224: 61–68.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Howdeshell KL, Hotchkiss AK, Thayer KA, Vandenbergh JG, vom Saal FS . Exposure to bisphenol A advances puberty. Nature 1999; 401: 763–764.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Padmanabhan V, Sarma HN, Savabieasfahani M, Steckler TL, Veiga-Lopez A . Developmental reprogramming of reproductive and metabolic dysfunction in sheep: native steroids vs. environmental steroid receptor modulators. Int J Androl 2010; 33: 394–404.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  7. Richter CA, Birnbaum LS, Farabollini F, Newbold RR, Rubin BS, Talsness CE et al. In vivo effects of bisphenol A in laboratory rodent studies. Reprod Toxicol 2007; 24: 199–224.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  8. Wetherill YB, Akingbemi BT, Kanno J, McLachlan JA, Nadal A, Sonnenschein C et al. In vitro mechanisms of bisphenol A action. Reprod Toxicol 2007; 24: 178–198.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Adriani W, Della Seta D, Dessi-Fulgheri F, Farabollini F, Laviola G . Altered profiles of spontaneous novelty seeking, impulsive behavior, and response to d-amphetamine in rats perinatally exposed to bisphenol A. Environ Health Perspect 2003; 111: 395–401.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  10. Kubo K, Arai O, Omura M, Watanabe R, Ogata R, Aou S . Low dose effects of bisphenol A on sexual differentiation of the brain and behavior in rats. Neurosci Res 2003; 45: 345–356.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Palanza PL, Howdeshell KL, Parmigiani S, vom Saal FS . Exposure to a low dose of bisphenol A during fetal life or in adulthood alters maternal behavior in mice. Environ Health Perspect 2002; 110: 415–422.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. Gioiosa L, Fissore E, Ghirardelli G, Parmigiani S, Palanza P . Developmental exposure to low doses of environmental estrogens alters sex differences in exploration and emotional behavior in mice. Horm Behav 2007; 52: 307–316.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Miao M, Yuan W, He Y, Zhou Z, Wang J, Li D . Parental exposure to bisphenol A during pregnancy and the anogenital distance of male offspring. Epidemiology 2011; 22: S242.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Mørck TJ, Sorda G, Bechi N, Rasmussen BS, Nielsen JB, Ietta F et al. Placental transport and in vitro effects of bisphenol A. Reprod Toxicol 2010; 30: 131–137.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Balakrishnan B, Henare K, Thorstensen EB, Ponnampalam AP, Mitchell MD . Transfer of bisphenol A across the human placenta. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2010; 202: 393.e1–393.e7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Yamada H, Furuta I, Kato EH, Kataoka S, Usuki Y, Kobashi G et al. Maternal serum and amniotic fluid bisphenol A concentrations in the early second trimester. Reprod Toxicol 2002; 16: 735–739.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Ikezuki Y, Tsutsumi O, Takai Y, Kamei Y, Taketani Y . Determination of bisphenol A concentrations in human biological fluids reveals significant early prenatal exposure. Hum Reprod 2002; 17: 2839–2841.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. CERHR. NTP-CERHR Monograph on the Potential Human Reproductive and Developmental Effects of Bisphenol A 2008. Available at http://cerhr.niehs.nih.gov/evals/bisphenol/bisphenol.pdf.

  19. Ranjit N, Siefert K, Padmanabhan V . Bisphenol-A and disparities in birth outcomes: a review and directions for future research. J Perinatol 2010; 30: 2–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Diamanti-Kandarakis E, Bourguignon JP, Giudice LC, Hauser R, Prins GS, Soto AM et al. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals: an endocrine society scientific statement. Endocr Rev 2009; 30: 293–342.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  21. Vom Saal FS, Akingbemi BT, Belcher SM, Bimbaum LS, Crain DA, Eriksen M et al. Chapel Hill bisphenol A expert panel consensus statement: integration of mechanisms, effects in animals and potential to impact human health at current levels of exposure. Reprod Toxicol 2007; 24: 131–138.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. Padmanabhan V, Siefert K, Ransom S, Johnson T, Pinkerton J, Anderson L et al. Maternal bisphenol-A levels at delivery: a looming problem? J Perinatol 2008; 28: 258–263.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  23. Schönfelder G, Wittfoht W, Hopp H, Talsness C, Paul M, Chahoud I . Parent bisphenol A accumulation in the parent maternal-fetal-placental unit. Environ Health Perspect 2002; 110: A703–A707.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  24. Lee YJ, Ryu HY, Kim HK . Maternal and fetal exposure to bisphenol A in Korea. Reprod Toxicol 2008; 25: 413–419.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Committee on Understanding Premature Birth and Assuring Healthy Outcomes, Institute of Medicine. In: Behrman RE, Butler AS (eds). Preterm Birth: Causes, Consequences and Prevention. The National Academy Press: Washington, DC, 2007.

  26. Takeuchi T, Tsutsumi O . Serum bisphenol A concentrations showed gender differences, possibly linked to androgen levels. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2002; 291: 76–78.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Takeuchi T, Tsutsumi O, Ikezuki Y, Tatai Y, Taketani Y . Positive relationship between androgen and the endocrine disruptor bisphenol A in normal women and women with ovarian dysfunction. Endocr J 2004; 51: 165–169.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Braun JM, Kalkbrenner AE, Calafat AM, Bernert JT, Ye X, Silva MJ et al. Variability and predictors of urinary bisphenol A concentrations during pregnancy. Environ Health Perspect 2011; 119: 131–137.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Matsumoto A, Junugita N, Kitagawa K, Isse T, Oyama T, Foureman GL et al. Bisphenol A levels in human urine. Environ Health Perspect 2003; 111: 101–104.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  30. Nord M, Andrews M, Carlson S . Household Food Security in the United States, 2005 (ERR-29). US Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service: Alexandra, VA, 2006.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Morland K, Filomena S . Disparities in the availability of fruits and vegetables between racially segregated urban neighbourhoods. Public Health Nutr 2007; 10: 1481–1489.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Nelson JW, Webster TF . The social epidemiology of bisphenol A exposure. Epidemiology 2009; 20: S50.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Uchida K, Suzuki A, Kobayashi Y, Buchanan DL, Sato T, Watanabe H, et al. Bisphenol-A administration during pregnancy results in fetal exposure in mice and monkeys. J Health Sci 2002; 48: 579–582.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Supported in part by research Grant no. 6-Fy06-311 from the March of Dimes Foundation and by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Research Development Fund, Medical University of South Carolina.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA

    E R Unal, L Goetzl & R Newman

  2. Nichols Institute, Quest Diagnostics, San Juan Capistrano, CA, USA

    T Lynn, J Neidich & D Salazar

  3. Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA

    J E Baatz & T C Hulsey

  4. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Charleston, SC, USA

    R Van Dolah

  5. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Marine Biomedicine and Environmental Sciences Center, Hollings Marine Laboratory, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA

    L J Guillette Jr

Authors
  1. E R Unal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. T Lynn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J Neidich
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. D Salazar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. L Goetzl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. J E Baatz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. T C Hulsey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. R Van Dolah
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. L J Guillette Jr
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. R Newman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to E R Unal.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Presented at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine 31st Annual Meeting in San Francisco, CA on 10 February 2011, Poster no. 206 and 207.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Unal, E., Lynn, T., Neidich, J. et al. Racial disparity in maternal and fetal-cord bisphenol A concentrations. J Perinatol 32, 844–850 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2012.12

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2012.12

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links