Effects of bisphenol a on the development, growth, and sex ratio of the housefly Musca domestica

The effects of bisphenol A (BPA) on the life cycle of the housefly Musca domestica were examined. The sex ratio of the imago shifted in favor of males when eggs and larvae were exposed to BPA in culture media at concentrations of 1,000 microg kg(-1) for five generations and 100 microg kg(-1) for seven generations. Notably, at an initial concentration of 100 microg kg(-1), BPA levels in the growth medium decreased 61% at 4 h after egg inoculation, and no BPA was detected after 24 h. Pupal weight increased upon exposure to 100 microg kg(-1) BPA but decreased after exposure to 1,000 microg kg(-1), suggesting highly variable concentration-dependent toxicity. Both the survival ratio of eggs to the third instar larval stage and the ratio of pupae to larvae decreased, indicating that BPA affected both eggs and larvae. A delay in the timing of emergence typically was observed in insects exposed to >100 microg kg(-1) BPA. Compared to the control group, juvenile hormones II and III levels were elevated significantly in larvae between days 4 and 7 in medium spiked with 100 microg kg(-1) BPA. These results suggest that exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of BPA during the early stages of the housefly life cycle can result in various disorders (pupal weight and sex ratio) that may be a consequence of endocrine disruption.