Socioeconomic position as a risk factor for BPA exposure in a sample of Egyptian children

Abstract

Bisphenol A is an endocrine-disrupting chemical that interferes with hormone action and contributes to disease and disability. Objective: To estimate the concentrations of urinary Bisphenol A in a sample of Egyptian children from different socioeconomic levels Methods: A cross-sectional study included 167 children aged 2-18 years of both sexes. Socio-demographic data were evaluated and estimation of urinary Bisphenol A using high performance liquid chromatography was done. Urinary Bisphenol A, was categorized into quartiles (< 1.3, 1.3- < 2.6, 2.6-4.9, > 4.9) ng/mL and was associated and analyzed with the social class. Results: The total urinary Bisphenol A ranged from 0.1 to 18.9 ng/ml with a mean 1.29 (+2.09), median 0.67 and geometric mean 0.68. According to parental occupation and education children were divided into 3 social classes: low (21.5%), middle (41.1%), and high (37.3 %). Children of high class have Bisphenol A levels significantly higher than middle and low classes, p=0.01. Conclusion: Urinary Bisphenol A concentrations exhibited low values in more than three fourths of the studied group indicating low exposure. The highest levels were detected in children from high socioeconomic standard. Excessive use of plastic bottles, microwave plastic wares and consumption of canned food may be the sources of exposure.