What are bisphenols?
Bisphenols are a group of chemicals used to manufacture plastics, epoxy resins and other products since the 1960s. Bisphenol-A (BPA), the most infamous of the group of 40 or so chemicals, was initially investigated for pharmaceutical use as synthetic estrogen in the 1930s. Many plastic products marketed as BPA-free contain similar replacement chemicals.
What are bisphenols in?
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Receipt paper, food and beverage can liners, food packaging, DVDs and CDs, medical equipment, toys and automotive parts, water bottles and some dental sealants.
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BPA is considered a building block of plastic and is one of the most used industrial chemicals used today.
Can bisphenols cause harm?
Though the health effects of BPA are still debated, it is thought to be an endocrine disruptor that mimics estrogen in the body, potentially causing adverse health effects.
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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says it is concerned about BPA because “it is a reproductive, developmental and systemic toxicant in animal studies and is weakly estrogenic”, adding there are “questions about its potential impact, particularly on children’s health and the environment”. Studies, the agency says, “indicate that the levels of BPA in humans and the environment are below levels of potential concern for adverse effects”. But the EPA says “results of some recent studies” using low doses describe “subtle effects in laboratory animals at very low concentrations”, and notes some authorities, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), are taking steps to “protect sensitive populations, particularly infants and young children”.
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BPA is most likely ingested through contaminated food and water and has been found in more than 90% of the population in the US over six years old. Some other bisphenols, such as BPF and halogenated bisphenol, are also suspected of having toxic effects, researchers at a Japanese university concluded in 2015.
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Recent research has linked the chemical to a wide range of health conditions in human and animal studies. A 2007 study co-authored by EPA and university researchers concluded BPA exposure affects the male reproductive system, brain and metabolic processes. Japanese researchers found possible links between high levels of BPA and recurring miscarriages. In two studies 25 years apart, a researcher from Washington State University found links between both BPA and BPS – a widespread replacement for BPA – and genetic damage in laboratory mice. A long-awaited 2018 government report, controversial among some in the scientific community, showed no conclusive effects from BPA in animal studies.
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BPA has been found in the urine of nearly all people tested by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as in amniotic fluid and breast milk of some women. A 2015 study co-authored by the EPA and university researchers found BPA in the breast milk of about 90% of lactating women in a small survey. University of Tokyo researchers detected BPA in the amniotic fluid of full-term fetuses in 2002. Prenatal exposure to the chemical has been linked to anxiety, depression and hyperactivity among children, and increased risk of breast cancer later in life.
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BPS, the main replacement for BPA following consumer backlash, may have similar effects to its predecessor. A 2018 study from Washington State University scientists found similar biological effects in lab mice from both BPA and BPS. A 2017 study co-authored by EPA researchers found that six BPA alternatives had as much, if not more, of an estrogen-mimicking effect on human breast cancer cells.
How can consumers limit any risks?
BPA is absorbed into the body mainly through food and drink, though contaminated air and dust might also be a factor.
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Cut down on canned food or, if you can’t, rinse the food in water. Don’t microwave food in plastic containers or cans.
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Avoid plastic with a 3 or 7 recycle code on the bottom, and use non-plastic containers when possible for food and drinks.
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Choose BPA-free water and baby bottles (though these likely contain BPS or other alternatives).
How are bisphenols regulated?
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The FDA has banned BPA in infant bottles, sippy cups and formula packaging, but declared it safe for other uses. The EPA says it has no plans to introduce BPA regulations, thought it has raised concerns over its health and environmental effects.
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The EU expanded its restrictions last year on the use of BPA in food packaging, building on a previous ban of the chemical in infant bottles. A 2016 decision to ban BPA in receipt paper is expected to kick in next year in the EU, with BPS likely to be used as a replacement. France has enacted one of the strictest BPA regulations, banning BPA in all food and beverage packaging and utensils since 2015.
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Canada declared BPA a toxic chemical in 2010. While it still bans the use of BPA in baby bottles, government agencies now maintain that the chemical is not a human health risk.
