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Toxin Watch: A Toxicologist’s Word on BPA
By Noreen Khan-Mayberry, Ph.D.
**The information and statements contained in this work are the professional opinion of Dr. Noreen and are not endorsed, sponsored, or representative of the United States federal government, NASA, or any federal agency. Dr. Noreen’s opinion is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure. **
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical widely used in the manufacturing of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins used in many industries. Humans appear to be exposed primarily through food packaging that was manufactured using BPA. However, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), these products account for less than 5 percent of the BPA used in the United States! Releases of BPA to the environment exceed one million pounds per year.
BPA is the building block for polycarbonate plastic, which is the hard, clear plastic used in many water bottles. BPA is found in everything from the linings of metal cans (soup cans included), the thermal paper used for cash register receipts (makes the print appear on the receipts), and dental sealants applied to children’s teeth. The chemical mimics the hormone estrogen, and in studies involving lab animals, exposure to BPA, even at very low doses, has been linked to a wide variety of health problems, from an increased risk of prostate cancer, to heart disease, to damage to the reproductive system.
The National Toxicology Program (NTP) in the United States expressed that they have ”some concern” for effects of BPA on the brain, behavior, and prostate gland in fetuses, infants, and children at the current human exposures to bisphenol A. This was their highest concern in regards to BPA, with ”some concern” representing the mid-point of a five-level scale of concern used by the NTP.
The NTP stated that there was not enough evidence on BPA to conclude development of reproductive toxicity in humans, yet they could not rule out the concern entirely.
While the EPA has called for new testing and several states have restricted or banned the use of BPA, estimates from market analyst reports show an annual global demand of BPA at up to 12 billion pounds and growing at about 5 percent per year. Polycarbonate plastics make up 74 percent of BPA use, and epoxy resins account for about 20 percent of production. Baby-bottle and food-can applications combined accounted for less than 5 percent of BPA consumption. That means the phaseouts haven’t put a big dent in overall BPA use.
Exposure to BPA can come from packaging as it leaches into foods and liquids stored in containers containing BPA. However, it can also come from its release into the air (1,2). BPA is found in people who have been tested to show levels of BPA in their systems. BPA binds weakly to the human primary estrogen receptor. This site has stronger binding ability to estrogen and phytoestrogens found in food. BPA binds more strongly to alternate estrogen receptors, which many believe are alternative pathways that lessen the physiological effects.
EPA set a limit of 50 micrograms per day of BPA in 1988 and this limit has caused much debate since many scientists and toxicologists feel that it is too high. Bottle formula-fed babies show intake of 13 micrograms a day for the first year of life. In 2010, EPA decided to look at BPA again and work with other federal agencies to determine BPA’s toxicity.
So what do I do? I avoid BPA as much as possible because I want to limit my low level chronic exposures to my food products. However, due to the fact that 95 percent of BPA use is not in food packaging, I am still concerned with my exposures from other routes, especially in air. Mounting evidence bolsters the argument against BPA use and I will continue to lower my exposures where I can and so should you.
Noreen Khan-Mayberry, Ph.D., is an environmental toxicologist, space toxicologist for NASA, and technical expert on food toxicity, environmental health issues, environmental remediation, and green technologies. “Dr. Noreen” is an author and speaker. She has spoken both nationally and internationally on topics relating to leadership, environmental, and spaceflight toxicology, reducing exposures to toxins and toxicants as well as nutritional and food toxicity. Dr. Noreen’s core mission is to take her knowledge as a toxicologist and make it easily understandable to everyone in order to improve their quality of life, which is demonstrated in her latest book Talking Toxicology. Dr. Noreen has helped countless people identify sources of toxins and toxicants in their home and work environments and she also gives back to the community by providing environmental health seminars for the general public. Dr. Noreen has been featured on talk radio shows as a guest expert on environmental and nutritional toxicity. Dr. Noreen also utilizes social media outlets to provide open forums and free information on toxicology - you can find her @DrNoreen on Twitter and www.facebook.com/doctornoreen on Facebook. Dr. Noreen is also a frequent speaker at Isagenix events and is a regular user of Isagenix products for optimal health and wellness.
References
1. Matsumoto H, Adashi S, Susuki Y. Bisphenol A in ambient air particulates responsible for the proliferation of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells and Its concentration changes over 6 months. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol. 2005 May;48(4):459-66.
2. Huang YQ, Wong CKC, Zheng JS, et al. Bisphenol A (BPA) in China: A review of sources, environmental levels, and potential human health impacts. Environmental International. 2012 July;42:91-99. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2011.04.010
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A toxic chemical in hard plastics, BPA releases to the environment now exceed 1 million pounds per year.
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical widely used in the manufacturing of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins used in many industries. Humans appear to be exposed primarily through food packaging that was manufactured using BPA. However, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), these products account for less than 5 percent of the BPA used in the United States! Releases of BPA to the environment exceed one million pounds per year.
BPA is the building block for polycarbonate plastic, which is the hard, clear plastic used in many water bottles. BPA is found in everything from the linings of metal cans (soup cans included), the thermal paper used for cash register receipts (makes the print appear on the receipts), and dental sealants applied to children’s teeth. The chemical mimics the hormone estrogen, and in studies involving lab animals, exposure to BPA, even at very low doses, has been linked to a wide variety of health problems, from an increased risk of prostate cancer, to heart disease, to damage to the reproductive system.
The National Toxicology Program (NTP) in the United States expressed that they have ”some concern” for effects of BPA on the brain, behavior, and prostate gland in fetuses, infants, and children at the current human exposures to bisphenol A. This was their highest concern in regards to BPA, with ”some concern” representing the mid-point of a five-level scale of concern used by the NTP.
The NTP stated that there was not enough evidence on BPA to conclude development of reproductive toxicity in humans, yet they could not rule out the concern entirely.
While the EPA has called for new testing and several states have restricted or banned the use of BPA, estimates from market analyst reports show an annual global demand of BPA at up to 12 billion pounds and growing at about 5 percent per year. Polycarbonate plastics make up 74 percent of BPA use, and epoxy resins account for about 20 percent of production. Baby-bottle and food-can applications combined accounted for less than 5 percent of BPA consumption. That means the phaseouts haven’t put a big dent in overall BPA use.
Exposure to BPA can come from packaging as it leaches into foods and liquids stored in containers containing BPA. However, it can also come from its release into the air (1,2). BPA is found in people who have been tested to show levels of BPA in their systems. BPA binds weakly to the human primary estrogen receptor. This site has stronger binding ability to estrogen and phytoestrogens found in food. BPA binds more strongly to alternate estrogen receptors, which many believe are alternative pathways that lessen the physiological effects.
EPA set a limit of 50 micrograms per day of BPA in 1988 and this limit has caused much debate since many scientists and toxicologists feel that it is too high. Bottle formula-fed babies show intake of 13 micrograms a day for the first year of life. In 2010, EPA decided to look at BPA again and work with other federal agencies to determine BPA’s toxicity.
So what do I do? I avoid BPA as much as possible because I want to limit my low level chronic exposures to my food products. However, due to the fact that 95 percent of BPA use is not in food packaging, I am still concerned with my exposures from other routes, especially in air. Mounting evidence bolsters the argument against BPA use and I will continue to lower my exposures where I can and so should you.
Noreen Khan-Mayberry, Ph.D., is an environmental toxicologist, space toxicologist for NASA, and technical expert on food toxicity, environmental health issues, environmental remediation, and green technologies. “Dr. Noreen” is an author and speaker. She has spoken both nationally and internationally on topics relating to leadership, environmental, and spaceflight toxicology, reducing exposures to toxins and toxicants as well as nutritional and food toxicity. Dr. Noreen’s core mission is to take her knowledge as a toxicologist and make it easily understandable to everyone in order to improve their quality of life, which is demonstrated in her latest book Talking Toxicology. Dr. Noreen has helped countless people identify sources of toxins and toxicants in their home and work environments and she also gives back to the community by providing environmental health seminars for the general public. Dr. Noreen has been featured on talk radio shows as a guest expert on environmental and nutritional toxicity. Dr. Noreen also utilizes social media outlets to provide open forums and free information on toxicology - you can find her @DrNoreen on Twitter and www.facebook.com/doctornoreen on Facebook. Dr. Noreen is also a frequent speaker at Isagenix events and is a regular user of Isagenix products for optimal health and wellness. References
1. Matsumoto H, Adashi S, Susuki Y. Bisphenol A in ambient air particulates responsible for the proliferation of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells and Its concentration changes over 6 months. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol. 2005 May;48(4):459-66.
2. Huang YQ, Wong CKC, Zheng JS, et al. Bisphenol A (BPA) in China: A review of sources, environmental levels, and potential human health impacts. Environmental International. 2012 July;42:91-99. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2011.04.010
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