Bisphenol A migration from plastic materials: direct insight of ecotoxicity in Daphnia magna

Abstract

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.

Ecotoxicity of bisphenol A to Caenorhabditis elegans by multigenerational exposure and variations of stress response in vivo across generations

“…Some studies have examined effects of BPA across generations using other animal models. Mansilha et al (2013) exposed Daphnia magna to BPA (from 1000 to 3000 mg/L) over five generations, and the further magnification of the adverse effects on mortality and fecundity were observed. Boudalia et al (2014) conducted a multigenerational study on low-dose BPA exposure (5 mg/kg BW/ day) in Wistar rats.…”

Development and application of a non-targeted extraction method for the analysis of migrating compounds from plastic baby bottles by GC-MS

“…Since BPA exerts a range of toxicological effects (Chen et al 2002;Vandenberg et al 2009Vandenberg et al , 2012Vandenberg et al , 2013Huang et al 2012;Singh & Li 2012;Mansilha et al 2013;Yang et al 2013), the European Commission, following the assessment of EFSA, has taken the precautionary measure to ban the use of BPA as a building block for PC baby bottles in the European Union from March 2011 and to ban the selling of PC baby bottles from June 2011 (European Union 2011a). In Belgium, following the advice of the Health Council (Superior Health Council 2010), a ban was also introduced from January 2013 on the use of BPA in any food contact material intended for children <3 years (Belgian Statute Book 2012).…”

Bisphenol A: Understanding Its Health Effects from the Studies Performed on Model Organisms

“…In the study of Manshilha et al [112], an increased fecundity (neonates per female), in comparison with the negative control group (100.3 ± 1.6%), was observed when daphnids were cultured and allowed to breed in the polycarbonate (PC) containers (145.1 ± 4.3%-264.7 ± 3.8%) for single and multiple generations. A strong dose-dependent ecotoxicological efect was evident, and it was suggested that BPA leached from plastic materials acts as functional estrogen in vivo at very low concentrations.…”