Maternal urinary concentrations of bisphenol A during pregnancy and birth size in children from the Odense Child Cohort

Abstract Background Bisphenol A (BPA) is widely used in the manufacturing of plastics. BPA can pass the placental barrier and influence fetal development. Due to its estrogenic and anti-androgenic properties, BPA may contribute sex-specific differences in developmental effects. We examined associati...

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Main Authors: Astrid L. Beck, Elvira V. Bräuner, Cecilie S. Uldbjerg, Youn-Hee Lim, Henriette Boye, Hanne Frederiksen, Anna-Maria Andersson, Tina Kold Jensen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:Environmental Health
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-025-01169-4
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author Astrid L. Beck
Elvira V. Bräuner
Cecilie S. Uldbjerg
Youn-Hee Lim
Henriette Boye
Hanne Frederiksen
Anna-Maria Andersson
Tina Kold Jensen
author_facet Astrid L. Beck
Elvira V. Bräuner
Cecilie S. Uldbjerg
Youn-Hee Lim
Henriette Boye
Hanne Frederiksen
Anna-Maria Andersson
Tina Kold Jensen
author_sort Astrid L. Beck
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Bisphenol A (BPA) is widely used in the manufacturing of plastics. BPA can pass the placental barrier and influence fetal development. Due to its estrogenic and anti-androgenic properties, BPA may contribute sex-specific differences in developmental effects. We examined associations between maternal urinary concentrations of BPA and birth size. Methods In this cohort study of 832 mother-child pairs from the Odense Child Cohort, pregnant women provided spot urine samples at gestational week 28, which were analyzed for BPA by isotope diluted LC-MS/MS. Osmolality adjusted urinary BPA concentrations were categorized into quartiles. Mother-child characteristics were obtained from hospital records and questionnaires. Linear regression analyses examining the association between BPA concentrations and offspring birth size (weight, length, head, and abdominal circumference) were performed for the full cohort and stratified by offspring sex. Results BPA was detected above the limit of detection in 85% of the urine samples with a median concentration of 1.33 ng/ml. In the full cohort, birth weight decreased significantly across increasing quartiles of maternal urinary BPA concentration, with the exception of the third quartile, which showed no significant association. In sex-stratified analyses, statistically significant decreases in birth weight were observed among male offspring in the highest quartile of maternal urinary BPA concentrations (β: -115 g, 95% CI: − 225, -4, p = 0.04) compared to male offspring of the lowest quartile and a possible dose-response association was suggested (p-trend = 0.06). No statistically significant associations were observed for birth weight amongst female offspring. Conclusions Our findings suggest a negative association between maternal urinary BPA exposure and birth weight, driven by a lower birth weight in male offspring. Further research is required to explore the underlying mechanisms of BPA’s possible sex-specific associations.
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spelling doaj-art-8b061af6b0cf47d88f77d63c3707e0ca2025-08-20T01:56:09ZengBMCEnvironmental Health1476-069X2025-04-012411910.1186/s12940-025-01169-4Maternal urinary concentrations of bisphenol A during pregnancy and birth size in children from the Odense Child CohortAstrid L. Beck0Elvira V. Bräuner1Cecilie S. Uldbjerg2Youn-Hee Lim3Henriette Boye4Hanne Frederiksen5Anna-Maria Andersson6Tina Kold Jensen7Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital - RigshospitaletDepartment of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital - RigshospitaletDepartment of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital - RigshospitaletSection of Environmental Health, Department of Public Health, University of CopenhagenOdense University Hospital, Hans Christian Andersen Children’s Hospital, Odense Child CohortDepartment of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital - RigshospitaletDepartment of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital - RigshospitaletDepartment of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital - RigshospitaletAbstract Background Bisphenol A (BPA) is widely used in the manufacturing of plastics. BPA can pass the placental barrier and influence fetal development. Due to its estrogenic and anti-androgenic properties, BPA may contribute sex-specific differences in developmental effects. We examined associations between maternal urinary concentrations of BPA and birth size. Methods In this cohort study of 832 mother-child pairs from the Odense Child Cohort, pregnant women provided spot urine samples at gestational week 28, which were analyzed for BPA by isotope diluted LC-MS/MS. Osmolality adjusted urinary BPA concentrations were categorized into quartiles. Mother-child characteristics were obtained from hospital records and questionnaires. Linear regression analyses examining the association between BPA concentrations and offspring birth size (weight, length, head, and abdominal circumference) were performed for the full cohort and stratified by offspring sex. Results BPA was detected above the limit of detection in 85% of the urine samples with a median concentration of 1.33 ng/ml. In the full cohort, birth weight decreased significantly across increasing quartiles of maternal urinary BPA concentration, with the exception of the third quartile, which showed no significant association. In sex-stratified analyses, statistically significant decreases in birth weight were observed among male offspring in the highest quartile of maternal urinary BPA concentrations (β: -115 g, 95% CI: − 225, -4, p = 0.04) compared to male offspring of the lowest quartile and a possible dose-response association was suggested (p-trend = 0.06). No statistically significant associations were observed for birth weight amongst female offspring. Conclusions Our findings suggest a negative association between maternal urinary BPA exposure and birth weight, driven by a lower birth weight in male offspring. Further research is required to explore the underlying mechanisms of BPA’s possible sex-specific associations.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-025-01169-4BPAOdense child cohortBirth characteristicsExposureEDCsUrine
spellingShingle Astrid L. Beck
Elvira V. Bräuner
Cecilie S. Uldbjerg
Youn-Hee Lim
Henriette Boye
Hanne Frederiksen
Anna-Maria Andersson
Tina Kold Jensen
Maternal urinary concentrations of bisphenol A during pregnancy and birth size in children from the Odense Child Cohort
Environmental Health
BPA
Odense child cohort
Birth characteristics
Exposure
EDCs
Urine
title Maternal urinary concentrations of bisphenol A during pregnancy and birth size in children from the Odense Child Cohort
title_full Maternal urinary concentrations of bisphenol A during pregnancy and birth size in children from the Odense Child Cohort
title_fullStr Maternal urinary concentrations of bisphenol A during pregnancy and birth size in children from the Odense Child Cohort
title_full_unstemmed Maternal urinary concentrations of bisphenol A during pregnancy and birth size in children from the Odense Child Cohort
title_short Maternal urinary concentrations of bisphenol A during pregnancy and birth size in children from the Odense Child Cohort
title_sort maternal urinary concentrations of bisphenol a during pregnancy and birth size in children from the odense child cohort
topic BPA
Odense child cohort
Birth characteristics
Exposure
EDCs
Urine
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-025-01169-4
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