Relationship of urinary bisphenol A in childhood on thyroid hormone function in adolescents: a cohort study.

<h4>Background</h4>Bisphenol A (BPA) is a type of endocrine-disrupting chemical utilized in the production of plastics like epoxy resins and polycarbonate polymers. BPA exhibits weak estrogenic and potent anti-androgenic effects, and prior research has linked it to disturbances in thyroi...

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Main Authors: Jung Eun Choi, Eun Jeong Choi, Seonhwa Lee, Bohyun Park, Hye Ah Lee, Young Sun Hong, Eunhee Ha, Hae Soon Kim, Hyesook Park
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0322658
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author Jung Eun Choi
Eun Jeong Choi
Seonhwa Lee
Bohyun Park
Hye Ah Lee
Young Sun Hong
Eunhee Ha
Hae Soon Kim
Hyesook Park
author_facet Jung Eun Choi
Eun Jeong Choi
Seonhwa Lee
Bohyun Park
Hye Ah Lee
Young Sun Hong
Eunhee Ha
Hae Soon Kim
Hyesook Park
author_sort Jung Eun Choi
collection DOAJ
description <h4>Background</h4>Bisphenol A (BPA) is a type of endocrine-disrupting chemical utilized in the production of plastics like epoxy resins and polycarbonate polymers. BPA exhibits weak estrogenic and potent anti-androgenic effects, and prior research has linked it to disturbances in thyroid function. This study aims to assess the potential association between early childhood exposure to urinary bisphenol A and thyroid hormone levels in pubertal children from Korea.<h4>Methods</h4>Participants were drawn from the Ewha Birth and Growth Cohort Study, encompassing individuals who visited Ewha Women's Mokdong Hospital between 2001 and 2005. The concentration of urinary BPA was repeatedly measured for each subject at ages 3-5 years and 7-9 years. Serum levels of free triiothyronine (T3), free thyroxine (T4), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were measured at ages 10-12 years in a subgroup of 128 out of 164 subjects who had undergone repeated BPA concentration measurements. We utilized the SAS program to analyze possible links between childhood exposure to BPA and thyroid hormone function in adolescence. Additionally, we explored how exposure to BPA during two specific periods influenced changes in thyroid hormone levels.<h4>Results</h4>The study observed that urinary BPA levels at ages 3-5 years were not notably linked to thyroid hormone levels in adolescents aged 10-12 years. However, BPA levels at ages 7-9 years were significantly associated with free T3 levels in girls aged 10-12 years. Conversely, exposure to BPA did not result in significant differences in thyroid hormone levels among boys. The study did not find statistically significant connections between levels of urinary BPA and the other thyroid hormones, specifically TSH and free T4. There was a significant decrease in the concentration of free T3 in girls with higher BPA concentrations.<h4>Conclusions</h4>BPA exposure in childhood affects thyroid function in adolescent girls. This relationship may contribute to an increased prevalence of thyroid disorders in adolescents due to environmental influences.
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spelling doaj-art-bded2f8a33884d7ea68ce15abbe657192025-08-20T03:48:27ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01205e032265810.1371/journal.pone.0322658Relationship of urinary bisphenol A in childhood on thyroid hormone function in adolescents: a cohort study.Jung Eun ChoiEun Jeong ChoiSeonhwa LeeBohyun ParkHye Ah LeeYoung Sun HongEunhee HaHae Soon KimHyesook Park<h4>Background</h4>Bisphenol A (BPA) is a type of endocrine-disrupting chemical utilized in the production of plastics like epoxy resins and polycarbonate polymers. BPA exhibits weak estrogenic and potent anti-androgenic effects, and prior research has linked it to disturbances in thyroid function. This study aims to assess the potential association between early childhood exposure to urinary bisphenol A and thyroid hormone levels in pubertal children from Korea.<h4>Methods</h4>Participants were drawn from the Ewha Birth and Growth Cohort Study, encompassing individuals who visited Ewha Women's Mokdong Hospital between 2001 and 2005. The concentration of urinary BPA was repeatedly measured for each subject at ages 3-5 years and 7-9 years. Serum levels of free triiothyronine (T3), free thyroxine (T4), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were measured at ages 10-12 years in a subgroup of 128 out of 164 subjects who had undergone repeated BPA concentration measurements. We utilized the SAS program to analyze possible links between childhood exposure to BPA and thyroid hormone function in adolescence. Additionally, we explored how exposure to BPA during two specific periods influenced changes in thyroid hormone levels.<h4>Results</h4>The study observed that urinary BPA levels at ages 3-5 years were not notably linked to thyroid hormone levels in adolescents aged 10-12 years. However, BPA levels at ages 7-9 years were significantly associated with free T3 levels in girls aged 10-12 years. Conversely, exposure to BPA did not result in significant differences in thyroid hormone levels among boys. The study did not find statistically significant connections between levels of urinary BPA and the other thyroid hormones, specifically TSH and free T4. There was a significant decrease in the concentration of free T3 in girls with higher BPA concentrations.<h4>Conclusions</h4>BPA exposure in childhood affects thyroid function in adolescent girls. This relationship may contribute to an increased prevalence of thyroid disorders in adolescents due to environmental influences.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0322658
spellingShingle Jung Eun Choi
Eun Jeong Choi
Seonhwa Lee
Bohyun Park
Hye Ah Lee
Young Sun Hong
Eunhee Ha
Hae Soon Kim
Hyesook Park
Relationship of urinary bisphenol A in childhood on thyroid hormone function in adolescents: a cohort study.
PLoS ONE
title Relationship of urinary bisphenol A in childhood on thyroid hormone function in adolescents: a cohort study.
title_full Relationship of urinary bisphenol A in childhood on thyroid hormone function in adolescents: a cohort study.
title_fullStr Relationship of urinary bisphenol A in childhood on thyroid hormone function in adolescents: a cohort study.
title_full_unstemmed Relationship of urinary bisphenol A in childhood on thyroid hormone function in adolescents: a cohort study.
title_short Relationship of urinary bisphenol A in childhood on thyroid hormone function in adolescents: a cohort study.
title_sort relationship of urinary bisphenol a in childhood on thyroid hormone function in adolescents a cohort study
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0322658
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