Bisphenol-A (BPA) has been used for decades in the industrial practice of making certain plastics and resins [1]. The most common uses of these plastics are food and beverage containers, such as plastic food containers (i.e. frozen dinner trays, rotisserie chicken containers) baby bottles/sippy cups, canned foods (i.e. baby formula cans), and plastic wrap (i.e. individual sealed fish fillets) [2,3,4,5]. Research has shown that BPA can seep into the food or beverage from the containers that are made using BPA [1]. BPA acts as an endocrine disruptor and mimics the hormones in the body, causing an array of damage, and studies have linked it to inducing cancer, diabetes, obesity, infertility, and behavioral problems [1].  The current position of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is that data based on “standardized toxicity tests have shown BPA to be safe at the current low levels of human exposure” [4]. However, the FDA also made a statement that “based on animal studies, there is cause for concern for the potential effects of BPA on the brain, behavior, and prostate glands in fetuses, infants, and young children” [4].

A recently published review of multiple BPA studies may spark the FDA to change their current stance on the risk posed by BPA. The study supports that exposure to amount as low as 2.5 μg/kg /day can cause a range of negative health outcomes including  developmental effects of the brain, heart, and ovaries [1,6]. The findings add to growing body of evidence that shows BPA is a risk to human health [1]. The evidence also shows that the absorption or ingestion of BPA may harm people at doses 20,000 times lower than what the FDA says is a safe dose. The current safe dose reported by the FDA is 50 μg/kg/day; however, in Europe, the safe dose was dropped to 4 μg/kg/day back in 2015 [1]. The former health scientist administrator at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Jerry Heindel is quoted saying that the findings in the new publication “should change how the FDA and other people look at the safety of BPA” [1]. In response to this publication, an FDA spokesperson stated that “the agency has not reviewed the new study but will continue to monitor scientific developments and take steps as appropriate to protect public health” [1].  It will be interesting to see if these new findings will change the FDA stance on BPA safety.

References:

1. Peeples, L. 2020. More bad news for BPA: Novel analysis adds to evidence of chemical’s health effects. Environmental Health News. Retrieved from: https://www.ehn.org/bpa-effects-on-human-health-2646417888.html
2. Bauer, B. 2019. What is BPA, and what are the concerns about BPA. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/bpa/faq-20058331
3. 2016. Products that contain BPA or phthalates. CNN Health. Retrieved from: https://www.cnn.com/2013/10/15/health/gallery/bpa-phthalates-products/index.html
4. Jacewicz, N. 2017. Which items in our kitchens contain BPA. NPR. Retrieved from: https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/10/06/555900292/which-items-in-our-kitchens-contain-bpa
5. Brennan, D. 2019. The Facts About Bisphenol A. WebMD. Retrieved from: https://www.webmd.com/children/bpa
6. Heindela, J., S. Belcher, J. Flaws, G. Prins, Ho,  J. Mao, H. Patisaul W. Ricke, C. Rosenfeld, A. Soto,  F.vom Saal, R. T. Zoeller. 2020. Data integration, analysis, and interpretation of eight academic CLARITY-BPA studies. Reproductive Toxicity. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reprotox.2020.05.014

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