Bisphenol A ; Amniotic fluid ; Human pregnancy ; Developing embryo
Abstract
ABSTRACT : Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical with weak estrogenic activity is reported to affect preimplantation embryos,
fetuses and alter their postnatal development. This study amied to determine the relation between the levels of BPA in the
amniotic fluid and pregnancy outcomes. ELISA was used to measure amniotic fluid BPA in 120 pregnant women who
underwent genetic amniocentesis at 15~20 weeks gestation. The most common indication for amniocentesis was advanced
maternal age (35 yrs or older). BPA was detected in all amniotic fluid. The range of amniotic fluid BPA concentrations
was from 0.89 ng/mL to 37.13 ng/mL with a mean level of 7.24 ng/mL. We compared the means of amniotic fluid BPA
concentrations according to maternal age (≥35 vs. <35 yrs), fetal sex (male vs. female), gestational age at birth (≥37 vs.
<37 weeks), and infant birth weight (≥2.5 vs. <2.5 kg). No significant differences were found in these outcomes. This
is the first report of amniotic fluid BPA levels in Korean pregnant women. Our findings suggest that BPA may not affect
the pregnancy outcomes such as fetal sex, preterm delivery and low birth weight. Whether prenatal exposure to BPA can
have teratogenic effect on developing embryo needs to be studied.