High BPA Levels Linked to Miscarriage Risk

By Amy Orciari Herman

High-risk women with elevated serum levels of bisphenol A (BPA) in the first trimester of pregnancy face increased odds of miscarriage, according to a study presented Monday at the annual meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. BPA can be found in many plastics and food and beverage containers, including the lining of metal cans.

Some 115 women with histories of infertility or miscarriage provided serum samples at 4 to 5 weeks' gestation, which later were tested for BPA. Nearly 60% of the women experienced a first-trimester miscarriage. Those in the highest quartile of BPA levels had an 80% greater risk for miscarriage than those in the lowest quartile.

Andrew Kaunitz, an OB/GYN with NEJM Journal Watch, observes: "Although abnormal chromosomes represent the principal cause of early pregnancy loss ... attention is focusing on the possibility that environmental toxins might also contribute to early pregnancy loss. While not conclusive, the findings of this small study point out the need for more study of the impact that BPA has on pregnancy."