Assessment of bisphenol accumulation from disposable devices used sequentially in IVF routine procedures

Research question: Are bisphenols released from disposable devices used in assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedures, and do they accumulate when several disposable devices are used sequentially under routine conditions?

Design: A comprehensive assessment of 19 individual disposable devices (31 assessments) and nine combinations of disposable devices replicating the main steps in an ART procedure was undertaken. The extraction of bisphenols followed routine-use conditions (temperature and duration). The concentrations of 10 bisphenols were determined using online solid-phase extraction/liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry methodology.

Results: Bisphenol S (BPS) was quantified consistently from 100-mm culture dishes (32 ± 20 pg) and from high security sperm straws (3 ± 1 pg). Also, BPS and bisphenol A (BPA) were quantified consistently from spermicide-free condoms (95 ± 78 and 83 ± 49 pg, respectively). No other bisphenols were detected in disposable devices when tested individually. When disposable devices were used in combination, both BPA and BPS were detected consistently in combinations of 13 disposable devices mimicking sperm collection in a condom and its preparation (46 ± 16 and 43 ± 32 pg, respectively). BPS was quantified consistently in combinations of 14 disposable devices mimicking sperm collection, its preparation and freezing (10 ± 4 pg), and in combinations of 17 disposable devices mimicking oocyte retrieval (37 ± 22 pg).

Conclusions: BPA and BPS are released in small quantities from some disposable devices used in routine conditions during ART procedures, but do not appear to accumulate when these disposable devices are used in combination.