Assessment of Bisphenol A (BPA) Exposure in Urban Stray Cats Through Hair Sample Analysis

Abstract

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an important environmental contaminant with documented adverse effects on both human and animal health. The present study provides the first assessment of BPA concentrations in the hair of stray cats inhabiting a highly urbanized and industrialized environment. Utilizing liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) with a validated analytical method, BPA concentrations were quantified in stray female cats (n = 100) living in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. BPA was detected in 100% of the analyzed samples. Concentrations ranged from 56.2 pg/mg to 1768 pg/mg, with a mean (±SD) of 281.6 ± 252.5 pg/mg and a median of 211.7 pg/mg. Furthermore, a weak age-related association in BPA accumulation in hair was identified. These findings indicate that stray cats are exposed to substantial levels of BPA, likely reflecting a high environmental burden of this substance in urban areas of Bishkek, and warrant further investigation of shared exposure pathways between stray cats and city residents. The limitations of the study include the absence of environmental measurements, approximate age assessment, and the inclusion of only female cats. Nevertheless, the results suggest that stray cats may serve as bioindicators and sentinel species for monitoring BPA contamination in the environment.