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.
Health Analysis Division, Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K1A0T6. Tracey.Bushnik@statcan.gc.ca
Tracey
T
Bushnik
Douglas
D
Haines
Patrick
P
Levallois
Johanne
J
Levesque
Jay
J
Van Oostdam
Claude
C
Viau
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