Affiliations 

  • 1 University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Department of Pharmacology Faculty of Medicine). wided.kouidhi@gmail.com
  • 2 SIRIM: Scientific and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia (Environment and Bioprocess Technology Centre)
  • 3 University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Department of Pharmacology Faculty of Medicine). mustafa@ummc.edu.my
Int J Occup Med Environ Health, 2017 Jul 14;30(5):743-750.
PMID: 28584331 DOI: 10.13075/ijomeh.1896.00917

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study has been to assess ambient bisphenol A (BPA) levels in workplaces and urine levels of workers and to establish a BPA database for different populations in Malaysia.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Urine samples were collected from plastic factory workers and from control subjects after their shift. Air samples were collected using gas analyzers from 5 sampling positions in the injection molding unit work area and from ambient air. The level of BPA in airborne and urine samples was quantified by the gas chromatography mass spectrometry - selected ion monitoring (GCMS-SIM) analysis.

RESULTS: Bisphenol A was detected in the median range of 8-28.3 ng/m³ and 2.4-3.59 ng/m³ for the 5 sampling points in the plastic molding factory and in the ambient air respectively. The median urinary BPA concentration was significantly higher in the workers (3.81 ng/ml) than in control subjects (0.73 ng/ml). The urinary BPA concentration was significantly associated with airborne BPA levels (ρ = 0.55, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide the first evidence that workers in a molding factory in Malaysia are occupationally exposed to BPA. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2017;30(5):743-750.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.