Measurement of Bisphenol A Diglycidyl Ether (BADGE), BADGE derivatives, and Bisphenol F Diglycidyl Ether (BFDGE) in Japanese infants with NICU hospitalization history

Bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE) and Bisphenol F diglycidyl ether (BFDGE) are used in medical devices, such as intravenous sets, syringes, and catheters. Several studies have reported that these compounds are endocrine disruptors, cytotoxic, and genotoxic, raising concerns about their adverse effects on infants, in a stage of remarkable growth and development. The present study aimed to measure the serum concentrations of BADGE, derivatives of BADGE, and BFDGE in infants and examine the factors that influence them.

Ten infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) were enrolled in the present study. Blood samples from each infant and questionnaires from their mothers were collected twice, at 1–2 months and 7 months of age. BADGE, BADGE·H₂O, BADGE·2H₂O, and BFDGE were quantified using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

Serum BADGE·2H₂O was identified in all infants, at both 1–2 months (2.30–157.58 ng/ml) and 7 months of age (0.86–122.85 ng/ml). One of the two infants who received invasive ventilation showed a substantially increased BADGE·2H₂O concentration. There was no significant difference in BADGE·2H₂O concentrations at 7 months of age between the group that ate commercial baby food at least ≥ 1 time per week and the group that did not.

BADGE·2H₂O was detected in the serum of all infants with a history of NICU hospitalization. Future studies are needed to determine the source of BADGE exposure and investigate its effects on infant development.