Bisphenol-A and phthalates contamination of urine samples by catheters in the Elfe pilot study : implications for large-scale biomonitoring studies

Stéphanie Vandentorren (1) , Florence Anna Zeman (2) , Lise Morin (1) , Hélène Sarter (1) , Marie-Laure Bidondo (1) , Amivi Oleko (1) , Henri Leridon (3)

1 Institut National de Veille Sanitaire
2 INERIS - Institut National de l'Environnement Industriel et des Risques
3 INED - Institut national d'études démographiques

Exposure to phthalates and Bisphenol A could cause developmental and reproductive toxicity. This study provides a first assessment of these exposures for more than 250 French pregnant women. The median concentrations of total and free Bisphenol A in urine were similar to those in other studies except the highest concentrations (5% of women had total and free Bisphenol A >50 micro g/L). Our study highlights high levels of Di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate metabolites in pregnant women, suggesting recent exposure, probably in hospital. Differences between types of delivery (caesarean vs. natural) support this hypothesis. This is a significant implication for large-scale biomonitoring studies among this population.

Keywords: BISPHENOL A; PHTALATES; BIOMONITORING; PREGNANCY; MATERNAL EXPOSURE; EPIDEMIOLOGY

Domains: Life Sciences [q-bio]; Toxicology; Environmental Sciences

Stéphanie Vandentorren, Florence Anna Zeman, Lise Morin, Hélène Sarter, Marie-Laure Bidondo, et al.. Bisphenol-A and phthalates contamination of urine samples by catheters in the Elfe pilot study : implications for large-scale biomonitoring studies. Environmental Research, 2011, 111 (6), pp.761-764. ⟨10.1016/j.envres.2011.05.018⟩. ⟨ineris-00963307⟩