title: Urine bisphenol A and pubertal development in boys.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bisphenol A (BPA) is an environmental endocrine disruptor and is found in many consumer products. Animal studies suggest that BPA may perturb pubertal development in males, although studies in humans are limited.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the association between BPA exposure and pubertal onset and progression among school-aged boys in Shanghai, China.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 671 boys aged 9-18 years from three schools (one elementary, one middle, and one high school) in Shanghai were enrolled in a cross-sectional study. Tanner stages for genital and pubic hair development and testicular volume were assessed by a specifically trained physician. Information concerning spermarche was self-reported. Urine samples were collected to examine peripubertal BPA exposure levels. Associations between BPA exposure and pubertal development, as indicated by the presence of different milestones in early puberty, mid-puberty and late puberty, were assessed using Poisson multivariate regression to derive adjusted prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Earlier onset of genital and pubic hair development was observed in boys with moderate BPA exposure compared with those exposed to the least BPA; the adjusted PRs were 1.31 (95%CI:1.03, 1.68) and 1.28 (95%CI:1.02, 1.60) for onset of genital maturation and pubic hair development, respectively. A similar trend was seen for onset of testicular development, although the association was not statistically significant. Conversely, compared with the lowest level of BPA exposure, moderate BPA exposure was associated with delayed presence of the late stage of genital development, with an adjusted PR of 0.78 (95%CI: 0.65, 0.92). A suggestive inverse association was also observed between BPA exposure and late progression of testicular development.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings indicate an association between peripubertal BPA exposure and earlier pubertal onset, but delayed pubertal progression, in boys. Longitudinal studies of male pubertal development with periodic follow-up are needed to verify these results.
authors: School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Key Lab. of Reproduction Regulation of NPFPC, SIPPR, IRD, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors: Ziliang
authors: Z
authors: Wang
authors: Division of Research, Kaiser Foundation Research Institute, Kaiser Permanente, Oakland, California, USA.
authors: Dekun
authors: D
authors: Li
authors: Key Lab. of Reproduction Regulation of NPFPC, SIPPR, IRD, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors: Maohua
authors: M
authors: Miao
authors: Key Lab. of Reproduction Regulation of NPFPC, SIPPR, IRD, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors: Hong
authors: H
authors: Liang
authors: Key Lab. of Reproduction Regulation of NPFPC, SIPPR, IRD, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors: Jianping
authors: J
authors: Chen
authors: School of Public Health, Key Laboratory for Public Health Safety, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors: Zhijun
authors: Z
authors: Zhou
authors: School of Public Health, Key Laboratory for Public Health Safety, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors: Chunhua
authors: C
authors: Wu
authors: Key Lab. of Reproduction Regulation of NPFPC, SIPPR, IRD, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: yuanwei11@yahoo.com.
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Yuan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000652:urine*; D002648:Child; D002681:China; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000652:urine*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000652:urine*; D006197:Hair / Q000254:growth & development; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010636:Phenols / Q000652:urine*; D011627:Puberty / Q000652:urine*; D012741:Sexual Maturation; D013737:Testis / Q000254:growth & development; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
chemical_list: D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D010636:Phenols; C006780:bisphenol A; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
keywords: Bisphenol A; Boy; Endocrine disruptor; Puberty; Tanner stage; Testicular volume