PLASTICS have been suspected of being hazardous to humans since the 1930’s and research has shown that it is a contributing factor in cases of heart disease, diabetes, breast cancer, obesity, infertility and some neurological issues.
This deadly chemical is called Bisphenol A (BPA), and is a building block of several important plastics and plastic additives.
BPA is used primarily to make plastics, and products containing it have been in commerce for more than 50 years. The chemical is a key ingredient in Polycarbonate plastic, which is clear and nearly shatter-proof; also, it is used to make a variety of common products including baby and water bottles, sports equipment, medical and dental devices, dental fillings and sealants, eyeglass lenses, CDs and DVDs, and household electronics.
Epoxy resins containing Bisphenol A are used as coatings on the inside of almost all food and beverage cans, however, due to BPA health concerns, in Japan epoxy coating was mostly replaced.
The first evidence of the effects of BPA came from experiments on rats conducted in the 1930s, but it was not until 1997 that adverse effects of low-dose exposure on laboratory animals were first reported.
Global production of Bisphenol A in 2003 was estimated to be over 2 million!
This is an extremely hazardous chemical and the first large study of health effects on humans associated with Bisphenol A exposure was published in September 2008 by Iain Lang and colleagues in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The cross-sectional study of almost 1,500 people assessed exposure to chemical by looking at levels present in urine. The authors found that higher BPA levels were significantly associated with heart disease, diabetes, and abnormally high levels of certain liver enzymes.
Studies by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in the United States found BPA in the urine of 95% of adults sampled in 1988–1994 and in 93% of children and adults tested in 2003–04. Infants fed with liquid formula are among the most exposed.
Environmental Implications
BPA can contaminate the environment either directly or through degradation of products containing BPA, such as ocean-borne plastic trash. Despite a half-life in the soil of only 1–10 days, its presence everywhere makes it an important pollutant.
In general, studies have also shown that BPA can affect growth, reproduction and development in aquatic organisms. Among freshwater organisms, fish appear to be the most sensitive species
Global Response
Canada – In April 2008, Health Canada assessed that the chemical may pose some risk to infants and proposed classifying the chemical as “‘toxic’ to human health and the environment.
Europe – On 22 December 2009 the European Union (EU) Environment ministers released a statement expressing concerns over recent studies showing adverse effects of exposure to endocrine disrupters.
Denmark – In May 2009, the Danish parliament passed a resolution to ban the use of BPA in baby bottles. In March 2010 a temporary ban was declared by the Health Minister.
Belgium – In March 2010, Senator Philippe Mahoux proposed legislation to ban BPA.
France – March 24, 2010, French Senate unanimously approved a proposition of law to ban BPA from baby bottles, the proposition still depends of Assembly approval.
The United States also supports the ban on BPA.
In the light of these uncertainties about the possibility of adverse human health effects at low doses of BPA, especially on reproduction, the nervous system and on behavioural development, and considering the relatively higher exposure of very young children compared with adults, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) will jointly organize an ad hoc expert meeting in November of this year, supported by Health Canada, to assess the safety of BPA. At the meeting of experts possible alternatives for BPA will also be considered and available information regarding uses and possible health concern will be summarised.