Lead and bisphenol A concentrations in the Canadian population.
BACKGROUND
Lead is a known toxicant that occurs naturally in the environment. Bisphenol A (BPA) is an industrial chemical used primarily in polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins. It has been 30 years since lead exposure was measured at a national level, and it is the first time for a national assessment of BPA exposure.


METHODS
Data are from the 2007-2009 Canadian Health Measure Survey. Lead in whole blood (PbB) and urinary BPA were measured in 5319 and 5476 respondents aged 6 to 79, respectively. Geometric means (GMs) are presented by age group and sex for PbB (pg/dL), volume-based BPA (microg/L), and creatinine-standardized BPA (microg/g creatinine). Adjusted least squares geometric means (LSGMs) for PbB and BPA are presented by selected covariates.


RESULTS
PbB was detected in 100% of the population, with a GM concentration of 1.34 microg/dL. Adults aged 60 to 79 and males had significantly higher GM PbB concentrations. Lower household income, being born outside Canada, living in a dwelling at least 50 years old, current or former smoking, and drinking alcohol at least once a week were associated with higher PbB concentrations. Urinary BPA was detected in 91% of the population, with a GM concentration of 1.16 microg/L (1.40 microg/g creatinine). Children aged 6 to 11 had significantly higher GM creatinine-standardized BPA concentrations than did other age groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Although PbB concentrations have declined dramatically since the 1970s, socio-demographic characteristics, the age of dwellings, and certain lifestyle behaviours are associated with higher levels. Given the short half-life of orally ingested BPA and the high frequency of detection, the CHMS data suggest continual widespread exposure in the Canadian population.
Bushnik
Tracey
T
Health Analysis Division, Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K1A0T6. Tracey.Bushnik@statcan.gc.ca
Haines
Douglas
D
Levallois
Patrick
P
Levesque
Johanne
J
Van Oostdam
Jay
J
Viau
Claude
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000652:urine*; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D002170:Canada; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D047348:Hydrolyzable Tannins; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010636:Phenols / Q000652:urine*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D003404:Creatinine; D047348:Hydrolyzable Tannins; D007854:Lead; D010636:Phenols; C432960:cercidinin A; C006780:bisphenol A; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds