Evaluation of Bisphenol A Dermal Exposure and Toxicokinetics Among Cashiers

收银员双酚A皮肤暴露及毒代动力学评价

• 批准号: 8360879
• 负责人: JOHN R WILKINS
• 金额: $ 23.76万
• 依托单位: OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-07-01 至 2014-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/8360879
• 关键词: Evaluation; Bisphenol; Dermal; Exposure; Toxicokinetics

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): There are 3.1 million workers in the U.S. who are cashiers within a large and growing service economy. These workers handle thermal receipt tape that is coated with a developing agent; Bisphenol A is the coating agent of choice and is applied to 40-80 percent of tapes. There are serious concerns over the toxicity of BPA and the hazard that it may pose to worker health especially considering the vulnerability of women of reproductive age who dominate this employment sector. Despite significant potential for BPA exposure considering the size of the population and nature of exposure, little to no quantitative data is available even though it is fundamental to evaluating the health threat. To address this critical gap, we have developed a research plan around a strategic hypothesis: when cashiers handle BPA-coated cash register receipts, the BPA is transferred to and absorbed through the skin leading to elevated internal exposures. This hypothesis will be tested based on experimental observations from two related specific aims. Aim 1: Conduct a controlled human exposure experiment (4 subjects) to provide a detailed mass-balance and toxicokinetic evaluation of the dermal absorption of BPA from coated cash register receipts, metabolism, distribution, and elimination in urine. This analysis will be based on measurements of BPA loss from receipts after prescribed hand contact and repeated measures of BPA in blood and urine for up to 10 hours post exposure. Aim 2: Quantitatively evaluate dermal exposure to BPA among cashiers. Cashiers (n=24) will be recruited through advertisements in local newspapers and existing Ohio State University networks. The presence of BPA on receipt tape will be confirmed and cashier exposure will be evaluated based on the change in urine levels from pre to post shift. The findings from this research will hold great significance for worker health and safety. The already substantial service and retail workforce is growing as the US continues its transition from an industrial to a retail-based economy. Furthermore, this workforce is made up of a large fraction of women who are of reproductive age and therefore particularly vulnerable to the reproductive and endocrine disruptive effects of BPA. A true and accurate evaluation of exposure is a necessary first step to assess risk, address measurement error in epidemiologic studies, and develop effective intervention strategies. Despite the obvious need, our proposed study will provide the first evaluation of the extent of cashier dermal exposure to BPA from cash register receipt tape and associated metabolism and toxicokinetics. As such, this study will address a critical knowledge gap that will inform BPA safety considerations among manufacturers, retailers and their employees, consumers, and policy makers. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The proposed research will have a profound influence on worker health and safety in the U.S. by providing the FIRST quantitative assessment of dermal exposure and associated toxicokinetics among cashiers handling BPA-coated receipt tape. Findings from this study will be fundamental in describing exposure (external and internal) and toxicokinetics that will inform quantitative risk assessment as a basis for informed decisions regarding needed actions for protection.

描述（由申请人提供）：在庞大且不断增长的服务经济中，美国有310万名收银员。这些工人处理涂有显影剂的热收据胶带；双酚A是首选的涂层剂，适用于40- 80%的胶带。人们严重关切双酚a的毒性及其可能对工人健康造成的危害，特别是考虑到在这一就业部门占主导地位的育龄妇女的脆弱性。尽管考虑到人口的规模和暴露的性质，BPA暴露的可能性很大，但很少甚至没有定量数据，尽管这是评估健康威胁的基础。为了解决这一关键问题，我们围绕一个战略性假设制定了一项研究计划：当收银员处理涂有BPA的收银机收据时，BPA通过皮肤转移和吸收，导致体内暴露量增加。这一假设将根据两个相关具体目标的实验观察结果进行检验。目标1：进行一项对照人体暴露实验（4名受试者），以提供详细的质量平衡和毒性动力学评估，评估皮肤对涂膜收银机收据中BPA的吸收、代谢、分布和尿液中的消除。这项分析将基于在规定的手接触后收据中BPA损失的测量，以及在接触后10小时内血液和尿液中BPA的重复测量。目的2：定量评估收银员皮肤暴露于BPA的情况。收银员（n=24）将通过当地报纸和俄亥俄州立大学现有网络的广告招聘。收据胶带上是否存在BPA将被确认，收银员的暴露程度将根据轮班前和轮班后尿液水平的变化进行评估。本研究结果对工人的健康和安全具有重要意义。随着美国继续从工业经济向以零售为基础的经济转型，已经相当庞大的服务业和零售业劳动力正在增长。此外，这一劳动力由很大一部分育龄妇女组成，因此特别容易受到双酚a对生殖和内分泌的破坏性影响。真实准确的暴露评估是评估风险、解决流行病学研究中的测量误差和制定有效干预策略的必要第一步。尽管有明显的需要，我们提出的研究将首次评估收银员皮肤从收银带接触BPA的程度以及相关的代谢和毒性动力学。因此，这项研究将解决一个关键的知识缺口，它将告知制造商、零售商及其雇员、消费者和政策制定者对BPA安全的考虑。