News Feature

More than 100 studies examining the effects of bisphenol A (BPA) and health were published in 2008 making BPA one of the most studied chemicals last year.

Background and Research Findings

BPA is a man-made organic compound that is a white to light brown flaky powder. BPA is used primarily in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins that are then used in food and drink packaging and to coat metal products including the inside of food cans, bottle tops, and as coatings inside water supply lines. BPA is also used in some recycling applications and in some dental sealants. BPA is an endocrine disruptor and as such, even at low doses it may be able to mimic the body’s own hormones.

Although most of the clinical studies in 2008 used non-human animals to test specific effects of BPA at different exposure levels, dozens of studies examined the association between levels of circulating BPA in the human body and health outcomes in humans. The vast majority of studies published reported results showing that higher levels of BPA were associated with increased illness, problems with development, or abnormal biologic functioning.

Of particular note were results reported that were based on National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data. The NHANES is a large population-based study which is thought to mimic the distribution of the US population in terms of gender, age, race and ethnicity when appropriately analyzed.  Researchers from the US Center’s for Disease Control (CDC) reported results from the NHANES showing that BPA exposure among the US population is widespread. Early in 2008, Antonia Calafat and colleagues at the CDC reported that BPA was detected in 92.6% of all of the participants 6-years of age and older who participated in the NHANES. Published in Environmental Health Perspectives, these researchers also reported that females had higher levels of circulating BPA than males and children had higher levels than adolescents. Later in 2008, in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Iain Lang and colleagues from the Peninsula Medical School in the United Kingdom reported results from the NHANES showing an association between higher levels of BPA and increased risk for heart disease and diabetes.

Findings reported in 2008 contributed to an increasing call by researchers and policy makers to decrease the use of BPA in manufacturing – particularly in items that come in contact with food. In April of 2008 Canada implemented a ban on water and baby bottles that contain BPA. Similar bans have been proposed in the US congress and in 13 states although to date no bans are in place within the US. Many European countries have also considered similar bans.

Policy and Precaution

Most researchers and policy makers agree that delay in putting similar bans in place in the US and Europe is due to the debate surrounding the level at which BPA exposure is dangerous. While most researchers and policy makers agree that BPA is dangerous at some level of exposure, there is wide disagreement about whether or not typical daily exposures are dangerous. An illustrative example of the controversy surrounding BPA was provided by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in October of 2008. After releasing a statement in August that BPA was safe at current exposure levels, in October the FDA announced it was reconsidering its stance in response to intense scientific criticism that suggested that the FDA ignored independent research on BPA in favor of industry studies.

Despite the debate surrounding BPA, many manufacturers have discontinued their use of BPA given increased consumer concern about the chemical. Plastic bottle makers like Playtex and Avent that once adopted campaigns aimed at assuring consumers about the safety of the BPA contained in their products now offer BPA free alternatives. Many other producers of plastic products have also begun offering BPA free choices for baby bottles, water bottles, sippy cups, and children's toys.

While finding BPA free plastics is becoming easier and easier, there is also a growing movement to avoid plastics all together – in part because of the widely publicized findings with respect to BPA. In place of plastic baby and water bottles, aluminum and stainless steel water bottles are becoming more popular and their availability is more widespread. Using glass for food storage and heating is also gaining more popularity. Some food companies have moved from selling food in plastic containers or cans to selling it in boxes and jars. Many major retailers including Amazon.com now offer ways to search for BPA free goods.

Find BPA Free Products: The Living the Science Clean & Green Marketplace includes hundreds of BPA free products including safer plastics, glass storage, BPA free bottles, and BPA free toys as well as thousands of other non-toxic alternatives to most everyday products.