Maternal bisphenol-A levels at delivery: a looming problem?

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to determine whether bisphenol-A (BPA) is found in maternal circulation of pregnant women in the US population and is related to gestational length and birth weight. METHOD: Circulating levels of BPA were quantified by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry at delivery in 40 southeastern Michigan mothers and correlated with gestational length and birth weight of offspring. RESULT: Maternal levels of unconjugated BPA ranged between 0.5 and 22.3 ng ml(-1) in southeastern Michigan mothers. There was no correlation between BPA concentrations and gestational length or birth weight of offspring. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to document measurable levels of BPA in maternal blood of the US population. Long-term follow-up studies of offspring are needed to validate or refute concerns over human fetal exposure to synthetic exogenous steroids.