BPA or Bisphenol A is Everywhere - Are We Safe?

BPA otherwise known as Bisphenol A is a compound widely
used in the manufacture of plastics and epoxy resins. This
industrial chemical has created quite a stir since 2007 and
is still a subject of intense controversy. BPA can be found
in plastics around us and is in the products that we use
every day, from DVDs to eyeglasses to mobile phones.
Normally, BPA is harmless, that is, until it gets in
contact with food and drinks and leaches out. According to
a report of the National Toxicology Program (NTP) of the
U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), "the primary
source of exposure to BPA for most people is through the
diet...BPA in food and beverages accounts for the majority
of daily human exposure."

However, not all plastics contain BPA. Plastics are
categorized into 7 types according to the recycling process
and the classification codes are located at the bottom of
plastic containers. According to NTP, only plastic no. 7,
designated as "other" contains BPA. Incidentally there are
other organizations which report that BPA is also found in
plastic no. 3.

Some of the adverse effects that BPA may cause include the
following:

BPA is an endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) that mimics
the neurotoxic properties of the hormone estrogen.
According to the Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty
Unit (PEHSU) of the Association of Occupational and
Environmental Clinics (AOEC). "BPA has been associated with
increases in developmental disorders of the brain and
nervous system in animals. These developmental disorders in
animals are like problems such as ADHD (attention deficit
hyper-reactivity disorder) in humans."

PEHSU reports that "BPA may cause changes in cells in
breasts, the uterus, and the prostate which can increase
risk of cancers." The September 2008 report of NTP suggests
that BPA exposure may be linked to prostate and brain
cancer.

The NTP report also says that BPA can cause behavioral
problems in fetuses, infants and children. It can induce
early onset of puberty in girls and can cause reproductive
disorders.

High BPA levels have been linked to increased risk for
cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

It comes as no surprise that these findings have generated
a strong anti-BPA movement worldwide. To understand the
controversy behind BPA, let's look at some of the events
that have occurred in the last two years.

March 2007. A class action lawsuit was filed against baby
bottle manufacturers on behalf of Californian babies who
may have been adversely affected by BPA.

November 2007. Researchers from the University of
Cincinnati published an article in Toxicology Letters
(online edition) reporting that BPA is leaching out of the
polycarbonate bottles popularly used as drinking bottles.
This report led to Nalgene plastic bottles taken off the
shelves in Canada.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) tested infant
formulas for BPA and detected BPA in some of the most
popular brands. When questioned, 4 out of the top 5
companies admitted using BPA in their packaging.

January 2008. The National Center for Environmental Health
of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
published a paper which reported that BPA was detected in
the urine of 92.6% of 2,517 participants during the
2003-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
(NHNES).

April 2008. Canada announced its plans to ban
BPA-containing bottles. The US FDA established an
agency-wide BPA task force to facilitate cross-agency
review of current research and new information on BPA for
all FDA regulated products.

May 2008. In a health call, "leaders of the Committee on
Energy and Commerce threatened to subpoena the Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) for records the agency used in
determining that the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) was safe
for use in making infant formula liners and other products
intended for infants and children", according to a report
in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

July 2008. The European Food Safety Authority's AFC Panel
declared that human exposure to BPA is too low to cause any
real harm. According to the panel's report, the human body
rapidly metabolises and eliminates BPA out of the body.
September 3, 2008

The National Toxicology Program (NTP) issued a report on
BPA, expressing the following concerns: - "some concern"
for effects on the brain, behavior, and prostate gland in
fetuses, infants, and children at current human exposures
to BPA. - "minimal concern" for effects on the mammary
gland and an earlier age for puberty for females, in
fetuses, infants, and children at current human exposures
to BPA. - "negligible concern" that exposure of pregnant
women to BPA will result in fetal or neonatal mortality,
birth defects, or reduced birth weight and growth in their
offspring. - "negligible concern" that exposure to BPA will
cause reproductive effects in non-occupationally exposed
adults and "minimal concern" for workers exposed to higher
levels - in occupational settings. "Some concern"
represents a midpoint in a 5-point scale of concern, with
"serious concern" as the highest and "negligible concern"
as the lowest.

September 2008. Researchers at the University of Exeter
(UK) re-examined the previously mentioned NHNES BPA urine
data. They found that high levels of BPA in the urine were
associated with chronic diseases such as cardiovascular
disorders, diabetes, and kidney problems. The BPA
Subcommittee of the Science Board to the US FDA met on
September 16, 2008 to discuss BPA assessment.

October 2008. Two studies reported research results in mice
exposed to BPA. One study reported that pregnant mice
exposed to BPA suffered from altered the cellular structure
of the breasts. A second study showed that female mice's
exposure to low-dose BPA during fetal life or adulthood
caused alterations in maternal behaviour.

Researchers at University of Cincinnati report that BPA is
linked to chemotherapy resistance. The study demonstrated
that "BPA does not increase cancer cell proliferation like
DES [cancer-promoting compound called diethylstilbestrol]
does. It's actually acting by protecting existing cancer
cells from dying in response to anti-cancer drugs, making
chemotherapy significantly less effective."

The Canadian government announced the drafting of
regulations that will prohibit the import, sale and
advertising of polycarbonate baby bottles that contain BPA.

Based on a review by a subcommittee, the US Food and Drug
Administration (US FDA) stated that "consumers should know
that, based on all available evidence, the present
consensus among regulatory agencies in the United States,
Canada, Europe, and Japan is that current levels of
exposure to BPA through food packaging do not pose an
immediate health risk to the general population, including
infants and babies." In addition, the US FDA thinks the
Canadian restrictions on BPA are "out of an abundance of
caution."

January 2009. The US FDA and Health Canada's Health
Products and Food Branch hosted a meeting of
representatives of U.S and Canadian manufacturers and users
of food packaging materials containing BPA. They discussed
what is to be done to help minimize the levels of BPA in
food. The meeting was also part of FDA's efforts to assist
the manufacturing industry in its voluntary BPA reduction
efforts.

So what can we do to protect ourselves from BPA?

Recommendations from PEHSU - Avoid plastics with symbol # 3
(PVC or polyvinyl), symbol # 6 (PS or polystyrene foam) and
symbol #. Do not microwave food/beverages in plastic. Do
not microwave or heat plastic cling wraps. Do not place
plastics in the dishwasher. If using hard polycarbonate
plastics (water bottles/baby bottles/sippy cups), do not
use for warm/hot liquids. Use safe alternatives such as
glass or polyethylene plastic (symbol #1). Avoid canned
foods when possible (BPA may be used in can linings). Look
for labels on products that say "phthalate-free" or
"BPA-free".

Recommendations from the Center for Science in the Public
Interest (CSPI): Avoid plastic containers made of
polycarbonate. Any bottle or container made of
polycarbonate has the recycling No. 7 on the bottom. When
possible, prepare or store food—especially hot foods
and liquids—in glass, porcelain, or stainless steel
dishes or containers. If you have polycarbonate plastic
food containers, don't microwave them. The plastic is more
likely to break down and release BPA when it's repeatedly
heated to high temperatures. Don't wash polycarbonate
plastic containers in the dishwasher. The detergent may
break down the plastic, which could release BPA. Use infant
formula bottles that are made of glass or BPA-free plastic.
BornFree (newbornfree.com) is one of many companies that
make them. When you can, replace canned foods with foods
that are fresh, frozen, or packaged in aseptic
(shelf-stable) boxes. At least one manufacturer—Eden
Foods—lines its cans with a BPA alternative made from
plant extracts. A good alternative to polycarbonate is
polyethylene terephthalate (PETE), which has the recycling
No. 1 on the bottom. Avoid older versions of Delton dental
sealant...Most dental sealants are free of BPA. However,
older Delton sealants contain a compound that breaks down
into BPA, mostly during the first day after it comes into
contact with saliva.

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