Urinary bisphenol A and its analogues and haemato-biochemical alterations of pregnant women in Korea

Abstract

Introduction: Bisphenol F (BPF) and bisphenol S (BPS) are chemical substitutes for, and may have similar physiological effects to, bisphenol A (BPA). Bisphenols provoke endocrine disorders and are cytotoxic, oxidize hemoglobin, and induce morphological changes in human red blood cells (RBC). It is more sensitive to changes in the RBC number and hemoglobin (Hb) level during pregnancy. Therefore, we investigated the effects of bisphenols (BPs) and their substitute compounds on hemopoiesis and the serum biochemical parameters of pregnant women. Methods: The study population comprised 196 pregnant women from the MAKE cohort study, recruitment for which occurred from 2017 to 2019. We measured the levels of BPA, BPF and BPS in urine samples and collected data on socioeconomic, lifestyle, and environmental factors at visits to the hospital. The associations between the levels of the three BPs and biochemical parameters were analyzed by multiple linear regression. Results: The geometric mean urinary concentrations of specific gravity adjusted BPA, BPF, and BPS were 2.1, 0.2, and 0.1 mu g/L, respectively. There was a significant negative association between the urinary concentration of BPA and the Hb level (beta = -0.5, p = 0.02). After stratifying by the median concentrations of the three BPs, the maternal urinary BPA level had a significantly negative effect on the RBC count, HB level, and hematocrit in the high BPA concentration group (RBC, beta = 0.5, p = 0.001; Hb, beta = -1.4, p = 0.002; Hct, beta = - 5.0, p = 0.001). Conclusions: BPA has a harmful effect on hemato-biochemical changes that occur during pregnancy. Further studies should investigate the relation between widespread exposure to bisphenols and effects on human health.