Bisphenol a exposure and asthma development in school-age children: A longitudinal study

Background: Although the effect of bisphenol A on various health outcomes has been extensively examined, few studies have investigated its effect on asthma.

Objective: We hypothesized that exposure to bisphenol A in school-age children was associated with wheezing and asthma.

Methods: Participants included 127 children aged 7-8 years without a previous asthma diagnosis in an elementary school in Seoul, Korea. Three surveys were conducted, each 2 years apart. Bisphenol A concentration was measured at the baseline survey, and PC₂₀, which is defined as the methacholine concentration that induces a decrease in FEV₁ of 20% from baseline, was measured at every survey. Associations between bisphenol A concentration at 7-8 years of age and wheezing, asthma, and PC₂₀ at ages up to 11-12 years were examined using generalized estimating equations, a marginal Cox regression model, and a linear mixed model.

Results: The log-transformed creatinine-adjusted urinary bisphenol A concentration at 7-8 years was positively associated with wheezing (odds ratio, 2.48; 95% confidence interval, 1.15-5.31; P =.02) and asthma (hazard ratio, 2.13; 95% confidence interval, 1.51-3.00; P<001) at ages up to 11-12 years. Bisphenol A was also negatively associated with PC₂₀ (β= 22.33; P=.02). When stratified by sex, the association between bisphenol A and asthma remained significant only in girls (hazard ratio, 2.45; 95% confidence interval, 2.18-2.76; P<.001).

Conclusion: Increased urinary bisphenol A concentrations at 7-8 years old were positively associated with wheezing and asthma and negatively associated with PC₂₀ at ages up to 11-12 years.