Predictors of bisphenol A exposure in pregnant women of the Barwon Infant Study.

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a widely used chemical used in plastic and an endocrine disruptor ubiquitous in most developed settings. Exposure, particularly in early life, is implicated in a range of negative health outcomes. This study assessed whether various sources of BPA exposure in pregnant women, including diet, food preparation practices and personal care product use, are relevant predictors of measured BPA concentrations. Exposures were assessed via questionnaires. Maternal urine samples from 842 mothers were collected in trimester 3 and analysed for five bisphenols from the Barwon Infant Study, (infants born 2010-2013). Measurable BPA concentrations were detected in 54% of women. Positive associations with urinary BPA concentrations were observed for food-related factors, including a contemporaneous whole-foods dietary pattern and the proportion of raw foods introduced to the infant at 12 months, as well as renovation activities and use of dermal or spray products such as insect repellents. In contrast, cleaning frequency was negatively associated with BPA concentrations. Notably, women who reported attempting to reduce or avoid BPA exposure during pregnancy did not have lower urinary BPA concentrations. Findings show that BPA exposure goes beyond dietary and other ingestion-related factors, also occur via inhalation and skin absorption from the home environment and personal care products, respectively. Household cleaning practices offer a potential opportunity to reduce population-level exposure. The knowledge generated here will inform the design of bisphenol-reducing interventions for pregnant women or women of reproductive age.