Authors & affiliations: Ashleigh Heng-Chin* (University of Western Australia), Sona Nayyar* (Western Diagnostic Pathology), Courtney Kidd (Telethon Kids Institute), Jodie Leslie (Telethon Kids Institute), Prof Desiree Silva (Joondalup Health Campus), Dr Fisher Wang (Queensland Alliance for Environment and Health Science), Dr Christos Symeonides (Minderoo Foundation), Prof Sarah Dunlop (Minderoo Foundation), Dr Nina D’Vaz (Telethon Kids Institute)
*these authors contributed equally to this work
Background: Bisphenols and phthalates are plastic chemical additives (PCs), which are incorporated in the plastic manufacture process to provide specific properties such as flexibility or durability. PCs may leach from plastic objects and enter humans through oral, dermal, or respiratory pathways. Parent PC compounds and their metabolites have been identified in multiple biospecimen types. Higher concentrations of PCs in pregnant mothers’ urine have been associated with lower infant birth weight and developmental delays. As many pregnancy PC studies lack plastic-controlled collection methods, these results may draw criticism.
Objectives: The aim of this project is to identify sources of plastic contamination during participant self-collection and biobanking process of maternal urine.
Methods:
Part A) We have devised an innovative plastic-minimal and thoroughly controlled protocol for the self-collection of maternal urine at 36-weeks' gestation and subsequent biobank storage. The self-collection protocol involved 6 urine samples collected at 2 timepoints (AM, PM) over 3 consecutive days, and 2 negative controls (MilliQ water and synthetic urine). We also implemented negative controls during consumable preparation, laboratory processing, and freezer storage.
Part B) Additionally, we performed quality control on traditional urine collection and biobanking procedure (using plastic consumables), using negative controls.
Part C) Mass spectrometry was performed on all samples and controls to assess where PC contamination occurred in the novel plastic-minimal procedure and traditional collection and biobanking methodology.
Results: Mass spectrometry results will be generated by Queensland Alliance for Environmental and Health Sciences, and further analysed for improved biobanking strategies. These results will be available for presentation at ABNA 2022.
Discussion: The results will inform the validity of the novel plastic-minimal procedure, which may be expanded to other biobanks. The extent of PC contamination during traditional urine biobanking will also be identified, and therefore their accuracy and utility in PC research.
Keywords: bisphenols, phthalates, plastic, urine, pregnancy, plastic-controlled methods