Serum concentrations of bisphenol A and its alternatives in elderly population living around e-waste recycling facilities in China: Associations with fasting blood glucose

In the present study, concentrations of bisphenol A (BPA) and its six alternatives were quantified in serum samples collected from elder population living around an e-waste recycling facilities as well as an reference area in China. BPA, bisphenol AF (BPAF), and bisphenol F (BPF) were frequently detected (detection rates: > 65%) in serum samples collected from residents living near e-waste dismantling facilities, with geometric mean (GM) concentrations of 3.2, 0.0074, and 0.062 ng/mL, respectively. The detection frequencies of other four bisphenols (BPs) in serum samples were lower than 25%, regardless of the sampling areas. Significant difference (Mann Whitney U - test, p < 0.05) was observed in the serum concentration of BPA, but not BPAF and BPF, between the e-waste recycling and reference areas. This finding indicated e-waste dismantling activities are correlated with human BPA exposure. Significant higher (p < 0.05) detection rates of donors who had abnormal fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels were found in e-waste recycling areas (45%) than those found in reference area. Our results suggested BPA and BPAF exposure might associated with abnormal FBG in participants living in e-waste sites. To our knowledge, this study is first determination of BPs in serum samples and assessment of health risk of elderly people from BPs exposure in e-waste dismantling area.