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Bisphenol A urinary level, its correlates, and association with cardiometabolic risks in Lebanese urban adults

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Abstract

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine disruptor with multiple purported metabolic effects. This study aimed to measure BPA among Lebanese population, to identify its predictors, and to explore any link to metabolic disorders. A representative sample of 501 adults from Lebanon was recruited in a cross-sectional study. Urinary BPA was measured, and data were collected for anthropometric measurements, medical history, food intake, and laboratory markers of metabolic conditions. BPA data was divided into tertiles. A total of 89% of the subjects had detectable urinary BPA levels, with an overall mean of 3.67 ± 4.75 μg/L and a mean creatinine-adjusted BPA of 2.90 ± 4.79 μg/g. There was a significant positive association with female gender and older age for being in the highest BPA tertile. BPA level was linked to metabolic syndrome (MetS), obesity, type-2 diabetes (T2D), hypertension, and dyslipidemia. After adjustment, the trend remained for BPA in association with MetS and T2D. Though urinary BPA in the Lebanese population was higher in older women, the levels were similar to world-reported figures. Our results suggest a link with metabolic disorders but not at a significant level. These findings call for longitudinal and broader sample measurements.

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Financial support

The study was supported by different grants from the University Research Board (American University of Beirut), the Medical Practice Plan (American University of Beirut), the National Council for Scientific Research (LNCSR), and the Munib Shahid Fund, and the Novo Nordisk development program.

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Correspondence to Hani Tamim.

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Mouneimne, Y., Nasrallah, M., Khoueiry-Zgheib, N. et al. Bisphenol A urinary level, its correlates, and association with cardiometabolic risks in Lebanese urban adults. Environ Monit Assess 189, 517 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-017-6216-8

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