The Possible Association between Phthalates and Bisphenol A Exposure and Idiopathic Precocious Puberty in Egyptian Girls

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates are utilized in large spectrum of plastics, as polyvinyl chloride as well as personal products, medical equipment, and epoxy resins. Phthalate and bisphenol A are the most common endocrine disrupting chemicals that interrupt the endocrine system and cause developmental, reproductive, neurological, and immune disturbances in humans. However, the relation between phthalates and bisphenol A and precocious puberty (PP) in human is still controversial. AIM: Consequently, the present study aimed to detect and investigate the association between exposure to bisphenol A and monobutyl phthalate (MBP) and precocious puberty in Egyptian girls. METHODS: Urine samples were collected from 100 young females. The subjects were divided into two major groups, precocious puberty group consisted of 60 young females diagnosed by an endocrine pediatric specialist and controls consisted of 40 normal young females matched in age and demographic characters. In urine, MBP and bisphenol A (BPA) were measured with high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: The mean concentration of MBP level was 22.758 ± 6.216 for the PP group and 15.283 ± 6.262 for controls with statistical difference between the studied groups (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the mean concentration of BPA was 405.02 ± 223.54 for the PP group and 97.95 ± 55 for controls with significant difference between groups (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The present study found that idiopathic precocious puberty in young females was associated with high phthalate metabolites and bisphenol A levels in urine.