Exposure assesment to bisphenols: Combining biomonitoring and duplicate diet studies

Identifier:  TDX:3082

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TDX3082

Authors:  González Paradell, Nieves

Abstract:
Bisphenols (BPs) are a group of organic compounds that act as endocrine disruptors causing adverse health effects such as, metabolic diseases, impairment of the reproductive system or cancer. They are used in everyday products, especially food products; hence, they presence is ubiquitous is the environment and the human exposure is extensive. Due to the strong regulation against bisphenol A (BPA) – the most used analogue – manufacture companies have started to replace it with other analogues. The aim of this doctoral thesis was to evaluate the dietary exposure to six bisphenol analogues performing a duplicate diet study. Cohort was divided in two groups and each of them followed a differentiated diet: one consisting of canned food and the other consisting of fresh food. BPA was the most detected analogue in food and urine samples. Results showed that following a canned food diet is significantly correlated with the exposure to BPA. Nonetheless, participants who followed a non-canned food diet also had detectable levels of urinary BPA. This is because non-canned food also presented levels of BPA, although they were lower than those found in canned food. In turn, exposure to BPA was also assessed, showing that none of the groups were exposed above the tolerable daily intake (TDI) of 4 µg/kg bw/day. Thus, human health is not at risk even when consuming a potential high-BPA diet. Besides, Other analogues were found only in punctual samples. Therefore, international organizations should start to regulate BPs compounds due to their similar structure and potential effects. Finally, it is important to keep in mind the health effects derived from the co-exposure to several compounds at the same time.