BISPHENOL A (BPA) D. KOURETAS 2016

What is BPA? Bisphenol A (BPA) is an organic synthetic compound with the chemical formula (CH3)2C(C6H4OH)2 belonging to the group of diphenylmethane derivatives and bisphenols, with two hydroxyphenyl groups. A colorless solid that is soluble in organic solvents, but poorly soluble in water. It has been in commercial use since 1957 Widely used to make polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins.

PRODUCTION First synthesized by the Russian chemist Alexander Dianin in 1891.

Where is BPA found? Polycarbonate plastics have many applications including use in some food and drink packaging such as water and baby bottles, compact discs, impact-resistant safety equipment, and medical devices including those used in hospital settings. Epoxy resins are used to coat metal products such as food cans, bottle tops, and water supply pipes. BPA can also be found in certain thermal paper products, including some cash register and ATM receipts. Some dental sealants and composites may also contribute to BPA exposure

STATISTICS

How does BPA get into the body? BPA can leach into food from the epoxy resin lining of cans and from consumer products such as polycarbonate tableware, food storage containers, water bottles, and baby bottles. Additional traces of BPA can leach out of these products when they are heated at high temperatures. Recent studies also suggest that the public may be exposed to BPA by handling cash register receipts.

Did you know that…? A 2011 experiment at the Harvard School of Public Health indicated that BPA used in the lining of food cans is absorbed by the food and then ingested by consumers. Of 75 participants, half ate a lunch of canned vegetable soup for five days, followed by five days of fresh soup, while the other half did the same experiment in reverse order. "The analysis revealed that when participants ate the canned soup, they experienced more than a 1,000 percent increase in their urinary concentrations of BPA, compared to when they dined on fresh soup." A 2009 study found that drinking from polycarbonate bottles increased urinary bisphenol A levels by two thirds, from 1.2 μg/g creatinine to 2 μg/g. Skin absorption (thermal paper include receipts, event and cinema tickets, labels, and airline tickets). A Swiss study found that 11 of 13 thermal printing papers contained 8 – 17 g/kg bisphenol A (BPA). Upon dry finger contact with a thermal paper receipt, roughly 1 μg BPA (0.2 – 6 μg) was transferred to the forefinger and the middle finger. For wet or greasy fingers approximately 10 times more was transferred. Extraction of BPA from the fingers was possible up to 2 hours after exposure. Further, it has been demonstrated that thermal receipts placed in contact with paper currency in a wallet for 24 hours cause a dramatic increase in the concentration of BPA in paper currency, making paper money a secondary source of exposure. Another study has identified BPA in all of the waste paper samples analysed (newspapers, magazines, office paper, etc.), indicating direct results of contamination through paper recycling. Free BPA can readily be transferred to skin, and residues on hands can be ingested. Bodily intake through dermal absorption (99% of which comes from handling receipts) has been shown for the general population to be 0.219 ng/kg bw/day (occupationally exposed persons absorb higher amounts at 16.3 ng/kg bw/day) whereas aggregate intake (food/beverage/environment) for adults is estimated at 0.36–0.43 μg/kg bw/day (estimated intake for occupationally exposed adults is 0.043–100 μg/kg bw/day)

Why are people concerned about BPA? Human exposure to BPA is widespread. The 2003-2004, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), found detectable levels of BPA in 93% of Americans six years and older. Another reason for concern, especially for parents, may be because some laboratory animal studies report subtle developmental effects in fetuses and newborns exposed to low doses of BPA. In 2012, the United States' Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the use of BPA in baby bottles; The Endocrine Society said in 2015 that the results of ongoing laboratory research gave grounds for concern about the potential hazards of endocrine-disrupting chemicals – including BPA – in the environment, and that on the basis of the precautionary principle these substances should continue to be assessed and tightly regulated

HEALTH EFFECTS (1)

HEALTH EFFECTS (2)

HEALTH EFFECTS (3)

ANIMAL RESEARCH (1) Dose (µg/kg/day) Effects (measured in studies of mice or rats, descriptions (in quotes) are from Environmental Working Group Study Year 0.025 "Permanent changes to genital tract" 2005 "Changes in breast tissue that predispose cells to hormones and carcinogens" 1 long-term adverse reproductive and carcinogenic effects 2009 2 "increased prostate weight 30%" 1997 "lower bodyweight, increase of anogenital distance in both genders, signs of early puberty and longer estrus." 2002 2.4 "Decline in testicular testosterone" 2004 2.5 "Breast cells predisposed to cancer" 2007 10 "Prostate cells more sensitive to hormones and cancer" 2006 "Decreased maternal behaviors" 30 "Reversed the normal sex differences in brain structure and behavior" 2003 50 Adverse neurological effects occur in non-human primates 2008 Disrupts ovarian development BPA is an endocrine disruptor that can mimic estrogen and has been shown to cause negative health effects in animal studies. BPA closely mimics the structure and function of the hormone estradiol by binding to and activating the same estrogen receptor as the natural hormone. Early developmental stages appear to be the period of greatest sensitivity to its effects and some studies have linked prenatal exposure to later physical and neurological difficulties.

ANIMAL RESEARCH (2)

Environmental risk In 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reported that over one million pounds of BPA are released into the environment annually. BPA can enter the environment either directly from chemical, plastics, coat and staining manufacturers, from paper or material recycling companies, foundries who use BPA in casting sand, or indirectly leaching from plastic, paper and metal waste in landfills or ocean-borne plastic trash. Despite a soil half-life of only 1–10 days, BPA's ubiquity makes it an important pollutant; It was shown to interfere with nitrogen fixation at the roots of leguminous plants associated with the bacterial symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti. BPA affects growth, reproduction, and development in aquatic organisms. Among freshwater organisms, fish appear to be the most sensitive species. Evidence of endocrine-related effects in fish, aquatic invertebrates, amphibians, and reptiles has been reported at environmentally relevant exposure levels lower than those required for acute toxicity. There is a widespread variation in reported values for endocrine-related effects, but many fall in the range of 1μg/L to 1 mg/L. A 2005 study conducted in the US had found that 91–98% of BPA may be removed from water during treatment at municipal water treatment plants. Nevertheless, a 2009 meta-analysis of BPA in the surface water system showed BPA present in surface water and sediment in the US and Europe. According to Environment Canada in 2011, "BPA can currently be found in municipal wastewater. Initial assessment shows that at low levels, bisphenol A can harm fish and organisms over time. A 2009 review of the biological impacts of plasticizers on wildlife published by the Royal Society with a focus on aquatic and terrestrial annelids, molluscs, crustaceans, insects, fish and amphibians concluded that BPA affects reproduction in all studied animal groups, impairs development in crustaceans and amphibians and induces genetic aberrations.

Positions of national and international bodies In November 2009, the WHO announced to organize an expert consultation in 2010 to assess low-dose BPA exposure health effects, focusing on the nervous and behavioral system and exposure to young children. The 2010 WHO expert panel recommended no new regulations limiting or banning the use of BPA, stating that "initiation of public health measures would be premature. United States: In 2013, the FDA posted on its web site: "Is BPA safe? Yes. Based on FDA's ongoing safety review of scientific evidence, the available information continues to support the safety of BPA for the approved uses in food containers and packaging. People are exposed to low levels of BPA because, like many packaging components, very small amounts of BPA may migrate from the food packaging into foods or beverages."FDA issued a statement on the basis of three previous reviews by a group of assembled Agency experts in 2014 in its "Final report for the review of literature and data on BPA" that said in part, "The results of these new toxicity data and studies do not affect the dose-effect level and the existing NOAEL (5 mg/kg bw/day; oral exposure) In 2010, Canada's department of the environment declared BPA to be a "toxic substance" and added it to schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 In February 2016, France announced that it intends to propose BPA as an EU REACH Regulation candidate substance of very high concern (SVHC) by 8 August 2016. As of 10 June 2011, Turkey banned the use of BPA in baby bottles and other PC items produced for babies.

REGULATIONS US 2014: 12 states have banned BPA from children's bottles and feeding containers On 29 January 2014 EPA released a final alternatives assessment for BPA in thermal paper as part of its Design for the Environment program In January 2010, the U.S. FDA announced that recent studies provide reason for some concern about the potential effects of BPA on the brain, behavior, and prostate gland of fetuses, infants, and children.

Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) January 2015 EFSA TDI =4 µg/kg body weight/day US: NOAEL 5 mg/kg bw/day oral exposure TDI

What can I do to prevent exposure to BPA? Don’t microwave polycarbonate plastic food containers. Polycarbonate is strong and durable, but over time it may break down from repeated use at high temperatures. Avoid plastic containers with the #7 on the bottom (http://www. recyclenow.org/r_plastics.html). Don’t wash polycarbonate plastic containers in the dishwasher with harsh detergents. Reduce your use of canned foods. Eat fresh or frozen foods. When possible, opt for glass, porcelain, or stainless steel containers, particularly for hot food or liquids. Use infant formula bottles that are BPA free and look for toys that are labeled BPA free.

Where can I go for more information? For more information on what federal agencies are doing related to BPA, visit the following web sites and search for “BPA.” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: http://www.hhs.gov U.S. Food and Drug Administration: http://www.fda.gov Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: http://www.epa.gov Consumer Product Safety Commission: http://www.cpsc.gov National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences: http://www.niehs.nih.gov National Toxicology Program: http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov