ESPE Abstracts

Background: Bisphenol A (BPA) is one of high production-volume chemicals and used extensively in consumer products, including food containers and epoxy food-can coatings. The primary source of BPA exposure in adults is via food and beverages, while among infants breast milk and polycarbonate feeding bottles are the predominant source of BPA exposure.

Objectives and hypotheses: To estimate the association between serum BPA A and premature thelarche in female infants aged 4-month to 2-year-old.

Method: Case–control study. A total of 251 female infants (aged 4 months–2 years) with premature thelarche and 33 healthy age-matched control subjects.

Results: The mean serum BPA A levels in the normal and premature thelarche groups were 5.27 and 7.84 ng/ml respectively. Serum BPA A concentration in the premature thelarche group was significantly greater than that in the control group. There was no correlation between age and serum BPA level. Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that serum BPA concentration positively associated with premature thelarche, and the effect of BPA falls down as age growing.

Conclusions: This hospital-based study implies that the association between serum BPA concentrations and premature thelarche. Additionally, the serum BPA levels are much higher than we ever thought in infants, and much more concerns should be raised in infants aged 4-month to 2-year-old.