Evaluation of Bisphenol A Dermal Exposure and Toxicokinetics Among Cashiers

描述（由申请人提供）：美国有310万工人，他们是一个庞大且不断增长的服务经济中的收银员。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。人们对双酚A的毒性及其可能对工人健康造成的危害表示严重关切，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。尽管考虑到人口规模和暴露的性质，BPA暴露的潜力很大，但几乎没有定量数据，即使它是评估健康威胁的基础。为了解决这一关键差距，我们围绕一个战略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会转移到皮肤并通过皮肤吸收，导致内部暴露增加。这一假设将根据两个相关的具体目标的实验观察进行检验。目标1：进行一项受控人体暴露实验（4名受试者），以提供对BPA从涂层收银机收据、代谢、分布和尿液中消除的皮肤吸收的详细质量平衡和毒代动力学评价。该分析将基于规定的手接触后收据中BPA损失的测量值以及暴露后长达10小时的血液和尿液中BPA的重复测量值。目的2：定量评价收银员皮肤接触BPA的情况。出纳员（n=24）将通过在当地报纸和现有的俄亥俄州州立大学网络上的广告招募。将确认收据胶带上是否存在BPA，并将根据轮班前后尿液水平的变化评估收银员暴露。这项研究的结果将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零售经济转型，已经相当庞大的服务和零售劳动力正在增长。此外，这一劳动力中有很大一部分是育龄妇女，因此特别容易受到BPA的生殖和内分泌干扰作用的影响。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，我们提出的研究将提供第一次评估的程度，收银员皮肤接触双酚A从收银机收据磁带和相关的代谢和毒物代谢。因此，这项研究将解决一个关键的知识差距，将告知制造商，零售商及其员工，消费者和政策制定者的BPA安全考虑。 公共卫生相关性：这项拟议中的研究将对美国工人的健康和安全产生深远的影响，它将首次对处理BPA涂层收据胶带的收银员的皮肤接触和相关毒理学进行定量评估。本研究的结果将是描述暴露（外部和内部）和毒理学的基础，将为定量风险评估提供信息，作为关于所需保护行动的知情决策的基础。

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.