Yeji Kim; Minkyu Park; Do Jin Nam; Eun Hye Yang; Jae-Hong Ryoo

doi:10.35371/aoem.2020.32.e10

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Kim, Park, Nam, Yang, and Ryoo: Relationship between seafood consumption and bisphenol A exposure: the Second Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS 2012–2014)

Research Article

Ann Occup Environ Med 2020;32(1):e10.

Published online: 4 March 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/aoem.2020.32.e10

Relationship between seafood consumption and bisphenol A exposure: the Second Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS 2012–2014)

Yeji Kim¹, Minkyu Park¹, Do Jin Nam¹, Eun Hye Yang¹, Jae-Hong Ryoo^1,^2,^*

¹Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Kyung Hee University Hospital, Seoul, Korea

²Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea

^*Correspondence: Jae-Hong Ryoo Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Kyung Hee University Hospital, 26 Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemoon-gu, Seoul 02447, Korea. E-mail: armani131@naver.com

Revised 6 December 2019 Accepted 3 March 2020

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Background

This study aimed to identify the relationship between exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) and seafood consumption using a nationally representative data of the general Korean population.

Methods

This study was conducted on 5,402 adults aged 19 years and older (2,488 men, 2,914 women) based on the second Korean National Environmental Health Survey (2012–2014). We stratified the data according to gender and analyzed urinary BPA concentrations in terms of sociodemographic characteristics, health behavior, dietary factor, and seafood consumption. In the high and low BPA exposure groups, the odds ratios (ORs) were calculated using logistic regression analysis according to the top 75th percentile concentration.

Results

In men, large fish and tuna and other seafood categories had significantly higher ORs before and after adjustment in the group who consumed seafood more than once a week than in the group who rarely consumed seafood, with an adjusted value of 1.97 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.12–3.48) and 1.74 (95% CI: 1.10–2.75), respectively. In the shellfish category, the unadjusted OR was 1.61 (95% CI: 1.00–2.59), which was significantly higher in the group who consumed seafood more than once a week than in the group who rarely consumed seafood. However, the OR after adjusting for the variables was not statistically significant. In women, the frequency of seafood consumption and the concentration of urinary BPA were not significantly associated.

Conclusions

BPA concentration was higher in men who frequently consumed large fish and tuna, shellfish and other seafood in this study.

Keywords: Bisphenol A, Seafood, Korean National Environmental Health Survey

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Table 1.

Baseline characteristics of the participants

Characteristics	Category	Total (n = 5,402)	Men (n = 2,488)	Women (n = 2,914)	p-value ^a
BPA (μ g/g creatinine)		1.46 (0.73–2.83)	1.22 (0.62–2.37)	1.68 (0.88–3.15)	< 0.001
Age (years)		51.1 ± 15.2	51.4 ± 15.4	50.9 ± 15.0	0.214
BMI	Underweight	139 (2.6)	45 (1.8)	94 (3.2)	< 0.001
	Normal	3,136 (58.1)	1,393 (56)	1,743 (59.8)
	Overweight	2,127 (39.3)	1,050 (42.2)	1,077 (37)
Household income	1st quartile	1,489 (27.6)	695 (27.9)	794 (27.2)	0.355
	2nd quartile	2,510 (46.5)	1,168 (46.9)	1,342 (46.1)
	3rd quartile	1,352 (25)	598 (24)	754 (25.9)
	4th quartile	51 (0.9)	27 (1.2)	24 (0.8)
Marital status	Single	568 (10.6)	319 (12.8)	249 (8.5)	< 0.001
	Married	4,302 (79.6)	2,053 (82.5)	2,249 (77.2)
	Others	532 (9.8)	116 (4.7)	416 (14.3)
Smoking	Non- or ex-smoker	4,380 (81.1)	1,579 (63.5)	2,801 (96.1)	< 0.001
	Current smoker	1,022 (18.9)	909 (36.5)	113 (3.9)
Alcohol	Non-drinker	2,149 (39.8)	646 (26)	1,503 (51.6)	< 0.001
	Moderate drinker	2,766 (51.3)	1,422 (57.2)	1,344 (46.1)
	Heavy drinker	487 (9)	420 (16.8)	67 (2.3)
Exercise	No	3,911 (72.4)	1,739 (69.9)	2,172 (74.5)	< 0.001
	Yes	1,491 (27.6)	749 (30.1)	742 (25.5)
Consumption of frozen food	Rarely	4,334 (80.3)	1,991 (80)	2,343 (80.4)	0.707
	≤ Once a week	937 (17.3)	432 (17.4)	505 (17.3)
	> Once a week	131 (2.4)	65 (2.6)	66 (2.3)
Consumption of canned food	Rarely	2,717 (50.3)	1,235 (49.6)	1,482 (50.9)	0.017
	≤ Once a week	2,347 (43.4)	1,072 (43.1)	1,275 (43.8)
	> Once a week	338 (6.3)	181 (7.3)	157 (5.3)
Consumption of large fish and tuna	Rarely	3,690 (68.3)	1,626 (65.4)	2,064 (70.8)	< 0.001
	≤ Once a week	1,570 (29.1)	780 (31.4)	790 (27.1)
	> Once a week	142 (2.6)	82 (3.2)	60 (2.1)
Consumption of fish	Rarely	501 (9.2)	198 (8.0)	303 (10.4)	< 0.001
	≤ Once a week	3,217 (59.6)	1,446 (58.1)	1,771 (60.8)
	> Once a week	1,684 (31.2)	844 (33.9)	840 (28.8)
Consumption of crustacean	Rarely	3,056 (56.6)	1,348 (54.2)	1,708 (58.6)	0.004
	≤ Once a week	2,143 (39.7)	1,045 (42.0)	1,098 (37.7)
	> Once a week	203 (3.7)	95 (3.8)	108 (3.7)
Consumption of seaweed	Rarely	242 (4.5)	125 (5.0)	117 (4.0)	0.152
	≤ Once a week	1,854 (34.3)	862 (34.6)	992 (34.1)
	> Once a week	3,306 (61.2)	1,501 (60.3)	1,805 (61.9)
Consumption of shellfish	Rarely	2,720 (50.4)	1,191 (47.9)	1,529 (52.5)	0.003
	≤ Once a week	2,339 (43.3)	1,125 (45.2)	1,214 (41.6)
	> Once a week	343 (6.3)	172 (6.9)	171 (5.9)
Consumption of other seafood items	Rarely	2,341 (43.3)	979 (39.3)	1,362 (46.7)	< 0.001
	≤ Once a week	2,793 (51.7)	1,373 (55.2)	1,420 (48.8)
	> Once a week	268 (5.0)	136 (5.5)	132 (4.5)

Data were presented as median (interquartile range), mean ± standard deviation, or number (%). BPA: bisphenol A; BMI: body mass index.

^a p-value calculated by t-test or χ

² tests.

Table 2.

Baseline characteristics of the participants according to urinary concentration of BPA (male: ≥ 2.4 μg/g creatinine, female: ≥ 3.2 μg/g creatinine)

Characteristics	Category	Men			Women
Characteristics	Category	Low (n = 1,876)	High (n = 612)	p-value	Low (n = 2,228)	High (n = 686)	p-value
Age (years)		51.6 ± 15.6	50.9 ± 14.9	0.331	51.2 ± 15.2	49.7 ± 14.2	0.015
BMI	Underweight	35 (1.9)	10 (1.6)	0.930	75 (3.4)	19 (2.8)	0.558
	Normal	1,049 (55.9)	344 (56.2)		1,339 (60.1)	404 (58.9)
	Overweight	792 (42.2)	258 (42.2)		814 (36.5)	263 (38.3)
Household income	1st quartile	535 (28.5)	160 (26.1)	0.642	619 (27.8)	175 (25.5)	0.006
	2nd quartile	877 (46.7)	291 (47.6)		1,048 (47)	294 (42.9)
	3rd quartile	445 (23.7)	153 (25)		546 (24.5)	208 (30.3)
	4th quartile	19 (1)	8 (1.3)		15 (0.7)	9 (1.3)
Marital status	Single	245 (13.1)	74 (12.1)	0.794	193 (8.7)	56 (8.2)	0.035
	Married	1,545 (82.3)	508 (83)		1,697 (76.1)	552 (80.4)
	Others	86 (4.6)	30 (4.9)		338 (15.2)	78 (11.4)
Smoking	None or ex-smoker	1,191 (63.5)	388 (63.4)	0.969	2,141 (96.1)	660 (96.2)	0.892
	Current smoker	r 685 (36.5)	224 (36.6)		87 (3.9)	26 (3.8)
Alcohol	None	495 (26.4)	151 (24.7)	0.009	1,162 (52.2)	341 (49.7)	0.476
	Moderate	1,089 (58)	333 (54.4)		1,017 (45.6)	327 (47.7)
	Heavy	292 (15.6)	128 (20.9)		49 (2.2)	18 (2.6)
Exercise	No	1,313 (70)	426 (69.6)	0.858	1,654 (74.2)	518 (75.5)	0.503
	Yes	563 (30)	186 (30.4)		574 (25.8)	168 (24.5)
Consumption of frozen food	Rarely	1,520 (81)	471 (77)	0.050	1,807 (81.1)	536 (78.1)	0.122
	≤ Once a week	313 (16.7)	119 (19.4)		376 (16.9)	129 (18.8)
	> Once a week	43 (2.3)	22 (3.6)		45 (2)	21 (3.1)
Consumption of canned food	Rarely	931 (49.6)	304 (49.7)	0.809	1,153 (51.8)	329 (48)	0.112
	≤ Once a week	805 (42.9)	267 (43.6)		963 (43.2)	312 (45.4)
	> Once a week	140 (7.5)	41 (6.7)		112 (5)	45 (6.6)
Consumption of large fish and tuna	Rarely	1,226 (65.4)	400 (65.4)	0.030	1,587 (71.3)	477 (69.5)	0.283
	≤ Once a week	598 (31.9)	182 (29.7)		600 (26.9)	190 (27.7)
	> Once a week	52 (2.7)	30 (4.9)		41 (1.8)	19 (2.8)
Consumption of fish	Rarely	137 (7.3)	61 (10.0)	0.102	237 (10.6)	66 (9.6)	0.167
	≤ Once a week	1,101 (58.7)	345 (56.3)		1,368 (61.4)	403 (58.7)
	> Once a week	638 (34.0)	206 (33.7)		623 (28)	217 (31.6)
Consumption of crustacean	Rarely	1,013 (54.0)	335 (54.7)	0.831	1,327 (59.6)	381 (55.6)	0.150
	≤ Once a week	789 (42.1)	256 (41.8)		818 (36.7)	280 (40.8)
	> Once a week	74 (3.9)	21 (3.5)		83 (3.7)	25 (3.6)
Consumption of seaweed	Rarely	96 (5.1)	29 (4.7)	0.933	91 (4.1)	26 (3.8)	0.562
	≤ Once a week	649 (34.6)	213 (34.8)		747 (33.5)	245 (35.7)
	> Once a week	1,131 (60.3)	370 (60.5)		1,390 (62.4)	415 (60.5)
Consumption of shellfish	Rarely	903 (48.1)	288 (47.1)	0.026	1,189 (53.4)	340 (49.6)	0.130
	≤ Once a week	858 (45.7)	267 (43.6)		916 (41.1)	298 (43.4)
	> Once a week	115 (6.1)	57 (9.3)		123 (5.5)	48 (7)
Consumption of other seafood items	Rarely	744 (39.7)	235 (38.4)	0.021	1,054 (47.3)	308 (44.9)	0.542
	≤ Once a week	1,043 (55.6)	330 (53.9)		1,074 (48.2)	346 (50.4)
	> Once a week	89 (4.7)	47 (7.7)		100 (4.5)	32 (4.7)

Data were presented as mean ± standard deviation or number (%). BPA: bisphenol A; BMI: body mass index.

Table 3.

ORs and 95% CIs of seafood consumption in individuals with high urinary concentration of BPA (male: ≥ 2.4 μg/g creatinine, female: ≥ 3.2 μg/g creatinine) compared to low urinary concentration of BPA

Category	Men		Women
Category	Unadjusted	Multivariate adjusted model	Unadjusted	Multivariate adjusted model
Consumption of large fish and tun
Rarely	1	1	1	1
≤ Once a week	0.78 (0.60–1.02)	0.79 (0.59–1.05)	0.91 (0.71–1.17)	0.82 (0.62–1.09)
> Once a week	1.72 (1.01–2.92)	1.97 (1.12–3.48)	1.52 (0.78–2.95)	1.27 (0.61–2.61)
Consumption of fish
Rarely	1	1	1	1
≤ Once a week	0.68 (0.43–1.06)	0.66 (0.42–1.02)	1.15 (0.79–1.68)	1.12 (0.76–1.65)
> Once a week	0.69 (0.42–1.12)	0.66 (0.41–1.07)	1.32 (0.90–1.93)	1.27 (0.87–1.87)
Consumption of crustacean
Rarely	1	1	1	1
≤ Once a week	1.12 (0.87–1.44)	1.10 (0.85–1.41)	1.29 (1.00–1.66)	1.23 (0.96–1.59)
> Once a week	1.11 (0.48–2.57)	1.11 (0.48–2.58)	0.73 (0.42–1.28)	0.71 (0.40–1.24)
Consumption of seaweed
Rarely	1	1	1	1
Rarely ≤ Once a week	1 1.30 (0.75–2.25)	1 1.28 (0.73–2.22)	1 1.52 (0.79–2.93)	1 1.43 (0.72–2.82)
> Once a week	1.41 (0.83–2.40)	1.38 (0.80–2.37)	1.17 (0.61–2.26)	1.08 (0.54–2.14)
Consumption of shellfish
Rarely	1	1	1	1
Rarely ≤ Once a week	1 1.05 (0.80–1.38)	1 1.02 (0.77–1.34)	1 1.09 (0.86–1.38)	1 1.05 (0.83–1.33)
> Once a week	1.61 (1.00–2.59)	1.53 (0.94–2.48)	1.47 (0.92–2.37)	1.44 (0.91–2.29)
Consumption of other seafood items
Rarely	1	1	1	1
Rarely ≤ Once a week	1 1.02 (0.78–1.34)	1 0.99 (0.75–1.31)	1 1.10 (0.86–1.41)	1 1.02 (0.79–1.32)
> Once a week	1.81 (1.16–2.83)	1.74 (1.10–2.75)	0.89 (0.49–1.60)	0.81 (0.46–1.44)

Multivariate adjusted model: adjusted for age, BMI, household income, marital status, smoking, alcohol, exercise, and consumption of frozen food and canned food. OR: odds ratio; CI: confidence interval; BPA: bisphenol A; BMI: body mass index.

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