The association of bisphenol A and paraben exposure with sensorineural hearing loss in children

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2023-09, Vol.30 (45), p.100552-100561
• Main Authors: Chang, Chia-Huang, Lu, Chun-Ting, Chen, Tai-Ling, Huang, Wen-Tzu, Torng, Pao-Chuan, Chang, Chen-Wei, Chen, Yu-Chun, Yu, Yu-Lin, Chuang, Yung-Ning
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Benzhydryl Compounds - analysis; Bisphenol A; Child; child development; Child, Preschool; Children; Chromatography, Liquid; Consumer products; Cross-Sectional Studies; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; elementary schools; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Exposure; Hearing; Hearing loss; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural - chemically induced; Hearing protection; Humans; In vivo methods and tests; language development; Liquid chromatography; Mass spectrometry; Mass spectroscopy; Neurotoxicity; Oxidative stress; Parabens - analysis; Regression analysis; Regression models; Research Article; risk; speech; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control
• ISSN: 1614-7499; 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-29426-4

Bisphenol A (BPA) and parabens (PBs) are chemicals that are extensively used in personal care products (PCPs). In early childhood development, hearing is critical to speech and language development, communication, and learning. In vitro and in vivo, BPA/PBs exhibited neurotoxicity through elevated levels of oxidative stress. BPA also has the potential to be an ototoxicant. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the association of exposure to BPA/PBs with sensorineural hearing loss in children. A cross-sectional study based on hearing tests was conducted. This study enrolled 320 children aged 6–12 years from elementary school. Urinary BPA and PB concentrations were analyzed by using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Logistic regression models were employed to determine the association of BPA/PB exposure with sensorineural hearing loss. Children with sensorineural hearing loss had higher BPA concentrations than normal-hearing children (0.22 ng/ml vs. 0.10 ng/ml, p  = 0.05). After adjustment for covariates, the risk of hearing loss at middle frequencies reached 1.83-fold (95% CI: 1.12–2.99) when BPA concentrations increased by 1 log10. The risk of slight hearing loss reached 2.24-fold (95% CI: 1.05–4.78) when children had a tenfold increase in ethyl paraben (EP) concentration. This study clarifies the role of exposure to BPA/PBs in hearing loss in children. Future research needs to be expanded to include cohort designs and nationwide studies to identify causality.