Bisphenol exposure in preterm neonates: a cohort study with measurements at admission and discharge in a neonatal intensive care unit in Ankara, Türkiye

This study assessed bisphenol exposure in preterm infants (born before 35 weeks of gestation) hospitalized in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), along with associated prenatal exposure. Fifty-eight infants and 48 mothers were included. Bisphenol A (BPA) and bisphenol F (BPF) levels were measured in maternal urine, cord blood, and infant urine samples using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). There was a significant negative association between maternal urine BPF (MuBPF) and the newborn's birth weight percentile. A significant positive correlation was found between the BPA levels of the infant's urine taken on the first day (NuBPA1) and the second sample taken on the last day (NuBPA2) in the NICU. There was a significant negative association between tertile levels of cord BPA (cBPA) and stretched penile length (SPL). NuBPF1 levels in the first-born babies were significantly higher compared to the later-borns. Detectable NuBPF1 levels and decreased NuBPF2 compared to NuBPF1 levels were observed more frequently in males. Cord BPA (cBPA) and BPF (cBPF) levels did not significantly correlate with maternal or infant urinary levels. No association was found between NICU procedures and BPA or BPF exposure levels. The absence of significant associations between neonatal urine BPA levels and both maternal urine and cord blood BPA, as well as NICU procedures, suggests that newborns may be exposed to these chemicals through other, unpredictable sources that were not captured in this study. The study highlights the need to minimize BPA and BPF exposure, especially during pregnancy and NICU stays, to protect fetal health and prevent future issues.