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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine disrupting
chemical (EDC) whose migration from food packaging is
recognized worldwide. However, the real overall food
contamination and related consequences are yet largely
unknown. Among humans, children’s exposure to BPA
has been emphasized because of the immaturity of their
biological systems. The main aim of this study was to
assess the reproductive impact of BPA leached from commercially
available plastic containers used or related to
child nutrition, performing ecotoxicological tests using
the biomonitoring species Daphnia magna. Acute and chronic tests, as well as single and multigenerational tests
were done. Migration of BPA from several baby bottles
and other plastic containers evaluated by GC-MS indicated
that a broader range of foodstuff may be contaminated
when packed in plastics. Ecotoxicological test results
performed using defined concentrations of BPA were in
agreement with literature, although a precocious maturity
of daphnids was detected at 3.0 mg/L. Curiously, an
increased reproductive output (neonates per female) was
observed when daphnids were bred in the polycarbonate
(PC) containers (145.1±4.3 % to 264.7±3.8 %), both in
single as in multigenerational tests, in comparison with the
negative control group (100.3±1.6 %). A strong correlated
dose-dependent ecotoxicological effect was observed, providing
evidence that BPA leached from plastic food packaging
materials act as functional estrogen in vivo at very low
concentrations. In contrast, neonate production by daphnids
cultured in polypropylene and non-PC bottles was slightly but
not significantly enhanced (92.5±2.0 % to 118.8±1.8 %).
Multigenerational tests also revealed magnification of the
adverse effects, not only on fecundity but also on mortality,
which represents a worrying trend for organisms that are
chronically exposed to xenoestrogens for many generations.
Two plausible explanations for the observed results could be
given: a non-monotonic dose–response relationship or a mixture
toxicity effect.
Description
Keywords
Endocrine disruptors Bisphenol A Food packaging Low-dose effects Mixture effects Daphnids Ecotoxicological tests