Bisphenol A and Children's Health: Results from the CHAMACOS Study

Bisphenol-A(BPA), a chemical used in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins, is an endocrine disruptor found in many consumer products, including in receipt paper, children’s toys, and the lining of food and beverage cans. Prenatal BPA exposure in animals is associated with altered neurodevelopment, and reproductive and metabolic problems.  Recent human studies also indicate that prenatal exposure can lead to behavior problems in children. To characterize exposure to BPA during pregnancy and investigate the potential consequences of this chemical on children’s health, we evaluated the levels and predictors of BPA exposure during pregnancy at two time points (~14 and 26 weeks gestation), and assessed the association of prenatal BPA exposure with several health outcomes including: children’s thyroid hormone levels, birth weight, cognitive functioning and behavior, and obesity in children from the CHAMACOS birth cohort. Data were collected on 507 pregnant women. Geometric mean (GSD) BPA concentrations were 0.97(2.7)µg/L at ~14 weeks and 1.03(2.6)µg/L at ~26 weeks gestation. We observed poor reproducibility in urinary concentrations (ICC=0.24) and observed higher BPA concentrations in samples collected in the afternoon/evening hours. Significantly higher BPA concentrations were seen in women who had lived longer in the U.S, consumed >=3 sodas/day, and/or consumed hamburgers >=1 time/week.  In boys, prenatal BPA exposure was associated with decreased thyroid stimulating hormone,  poorer verbal abilities at age 5, and attention problems at age 7 years.  BPA was also associated with decreased BMI at age 2, but increased weight gain in boys and girls between 2-9 years.