![]() There is so much wrong with this study that it is hard to know where to begin. The study authors concluded that “In utero exposure to BPA was associated with higher odds of current asthma (odds ratio = 1.13, 95% confidence interval = 1.01, 1.27) and wheeze (odds ratio = 1.14, 95% confidence interval 1.10, 1.30) … among girls, but not with wheeze nor lung function either in overall nor among boys.” When the children of these women were 7 to 10 years of age, they were assessed for the presence of asthma and wheezing, and their lung function was measured. Nevertheless, the authors used these measurements to determine BPA exposure to their children. BPA is totally eliminated from the body within 24 hours these BPA samples only indicate BPA levels in the women within 24 hours of testing. For most women, a single urine sample was collected, while approximately 700 women had two urine samples collected over their pregnancy. The meta-analysis consisted of 3,007 pregnant women with urine samples collected and measured for BPA from 1999 to 2010. The vast majority have shown no health effects. Over 100 studies have investigated the potential health risk from exposure to BPA in humans. The results were published in 2018, concluding that doses of 2,500 µg/kg and below did not cause any adverse effects in rats, while a dose of 25,000 µg/kg caused some impact, including effects on the female reproductive tract and male pituitary gland. The program consisted of a 2-year study in rats that examined a broad range of doses and health endpoints and several studies that evaluated the impact on the offspring of pregnant rats exposed to various doses of BPA. In 2010, the US government began planning a significant collaborative effort between the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Center for Toxicological Research to fund research on the health effects of BPA. While an endless amount of fear is disseminated, there is little scientific fact.īPA demonstrates toxicology's fundamental principle: “ The dose makes the poison.” The levels of BPA that people are exposed to are so low that no health effects have been noted animal studies have only reported adverse health effects at very high levels. A recent press release announcing that the FDA agreed to reevaluate safe levels of BPA said that “even very low levels of BPA exposure can be harmful and lead to issues with reproductive health, breast cancer risk, behavior, and metabolism.”Įxposure to BPA has also been linked with greater odds of asthma among school-age girls, lower lung function in children, and an increased risk of childhood obesity, all cause mortality and post-partum depression. This campaign has been so successful that many water bottles now contain the label “BPA-free,” indicating to consumers that being free of BPA will promote a long and healthy life.īPA has been linked to just about every adverse health effect imaginable. There have been endless efforts to scare the public about BPA. The current FDA limit on BPA in food packaging is 50 µg per kilogram of body weight. The FDA approved its use in food packaging material, concluding in 2008 that an adequate margin of safety exists for BPA at the estimated levels of exposure from food contact uses, and reaffirmed its safety in 2014. BPA does not accumulate in the body within 24 hours, it is eliminated through urine. ![]() (A microgram is one-millionth of a gram). The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that the typical person has exposure to 2.4 micrograms (µg) of BPA daily. Tiny amounts of BPA can migrate from the food contact material into foods and beverages. BPA is also found in epoxy resins that coat the inside of metal products, such as food cans, bottle tops, and water supply lines, and in some dental sealants and composites. BPA is found in polycarbonate plastics, often used in containers that store food and beverages, such as water bottles and other consumer goods. In this article, I will examine what is happening with BPA and how it fits into a more significant trend of using science to justify the desired outcome.īPA is a chemical that has been used to make certain plastics and resins since the 1950s. The lowering of the safe limit by EFSA is part of an overall trend of regulatory agencies lowering their safe limits for trace amounts of chemicals. This was based on a petition from environmental groups that cited the lowering of the safe limit of BPA by experts from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Earlier in June, the FDA agreed to reevaluate the safety of bisphenol A (BPA) in plastics, coating, and other materials that contact food. ![]()
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