Abstract

Background
This study aimed to examine exploratory cross-sectional associations between seafood-consumption frequency and spot urinary concentrations of bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol F (BPF), and bisphenol S (BPS) in Korean adults and to present descriptive sex-stratified estimates.
Methods
Seafood-consumption frequency was assessed using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire, whereas BPA, BPF, and BPS were measured in a single spot urine sample and dilution-adjusted using covariate-adjusted standardization. We analyzed 4,201 adults from the Korean National Environmental Health Survey 2018–2020. Seafood consumption (six groups) was classified as rarely, ≤once/week, or >once/week. Sex-stratified survey-weighted logistic regression estimated odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for high exposure (≥75th percentile), adjusting for sociodemographic factors, health behaviours, and food-contact behaviours. Sensitivity analyses used survey-weighted linear regression with ln-transformed concentrations.
Results
Median urinary concentrations were higher in men than in women for all three bisphenols. In men, seaweed consumption >once/week was associated with higher odds of high BPA exposure (OR: 2.34; 95% CI: 1.18–4.63), whereas crustacean consumption >once/week was associated with lower odds of high BPA exposure (OR: 0.27; 95% CI: 0.10–0.75). In women, large fish/tuna consumption >once/week (OR: 1.76; 95% CI: 1.00–3.20) and crustacean consumption >once/week (OR: 2.20; 95% CI: 1.09–4.43) were associated with higher odds of high BPA exposure.
Conclusions
Seafood-frequency categories showed associations with spot urinary concentrations of BPA, BPF, and BPS. These cross-sectional findings do not establish a causal relationship or a specific exposure pathway. Longitudinal studies with repeated urinary measurements and more detailed assessment of seafood products, processing, and food-contact materials are needed to clarify these associations.

• Keywords: Bisphenol A; Bisphenol F; Bisphenol S; Seafood; KoNEHS