What is Bisphenol A?
- Chemical found in the environment and in manufactured products especially hard plastics which leaches into food and water supplies.
- BPA is primarily used in the production of polycarbonate plastics (food and drink packaging) and epoxy resins (lacquers to coat metal such as food cans).
- Higher doses of this chemical are linked to various deleterious effects on Human health, primarily infertility.
What are Sources of Bisphenol A?
- Bottles: water bottles, baby bottles (using harsh detergents, high-temperature liquids, or products that contain acidic liquids to clean containers or heating plastics in the microwave).
- Ester bonds between BPA & other molecules forming plastic are very sensitive to heat → Heat releases free BPA into the food or drinks.
- Phthalates are other groups of chemicals that make plastic flexible, can also be released into food when heated.
- Dental & medical Products: dental filling, sealants & eyeglass lenses
- Equipments: dental devices, medical devices & sports equipments
- Electronics: DVDs and CDs & household electronic items
- Coating of food and drinks cans: epoxy resins that are used to coat
What is the route of entry?
- Enters the system when the fingers are placed in the mouth, rather than through the skin (food or water that has been stored in containers made with the chemical)
What is the mechanism of action of Bisphenol A?
- Higher doses of Bisphenol A as well as BPS & BPF tend to imitate the estrogens, thyroid, and other hormones in the human body & interferes with their metabolism therefore it works as an endocrine disruptor.
- Sensitivity to the effects of BPA is said to be higher in infants and young children.
How serious is the risk?
- World Health Organization (WHO) points out that exposure rates tend to be higher than those estimated to exist in most environments (one week of drinking water from polycarbonate bottles increased the levels of BPA in by two-thirds)
What are the deleterious effects of Bisphenol A on human health?
Reproductive disorders |
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Heart disease |
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Type 2 diabetes |
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Fetal brain development |
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Breast and prostate cancer |
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Asthma |
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How to minimize exposure?
- Avoid microwaving plastic containers
- BPA free foods and packaging (check for the label)
- Buy and store foods in non-plastic containers (glass jars)
- Choose wooden toys
- Avoid canned & use fresh, frozen, or dried products
- Avoid using dishwashers or use harsh detergents to wash plastic containers
- Breastfeed infants as far as possible
Also watch:
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The Dangerous Chemicals In Your Plastic Packages on the Youtube channel “Science Insider”:
-
Should I Be Afraid of BPA? on the Youtube channel “SciShow”:
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What Does BPA-Free Mean? on the Youtube channel “Change is Simple”:
Also read:
References:
- How does bisphenol A affect health? By Yvette Brazier in www.medicalnewstoday.com
- Barrett, J. R. (2009, February). Trumped treatment? BPA blocks effects of breast cancer chemotherapy drugs. Environmental Health Perspectives 1172, A75
- Carwile, J. L., Luu, H. T., Bassett, L. S., Driscoll, D. A., Yuan, C., Chang, J. Y., …Michels, K. B. (2009, May). Polycarbonate bottle use and urinary bisphenol A concentrations. Environmental Health Perspectives 1179, 1368-1372
- Gao, H., Yang, B.-J., Li , N., Feng, L.-M., Shi, X.-Y., Zhao, W.-H., & Liu, S.-J. (2015, January 9). Bisphenol A and hormone-associated cancers: Current progress and perspectives. Medicine (Baltimore) 941, e211
- Gao, X., & Wang, H.-S. (2014, August 15). Impact of bisphenol A on the cardiovascular system — epidemiological and experimental evidence and molecular mechanisms. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 118, 8399-8413
- Huo, X., Chen, D., He, Y., Zhu, W., Zhou, W., & Zhang, J. (2015, September). Bisphenol-A and female infertility: A possible role of gene-environment interactions. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 129, 11101-11116
- Li, D., Zhou, Z., Qing, D., He, Y., Wu, T., Miao, M., …Yuan, W. (2009). Occupational exposure to bisphenol-A (BPA) and the risk of self-reported male sexual dysfunction. Human Reproduction 00, 1-9
- Machtinger, R., Combelles, C. M. H., Missmer, S. A., Correia, K. F., Williams, P., Hauser, R., & Rocowsy, C. (2013, October 5). Bisphenol-A and human oocyte maturation in vitro. Human Reproduction 2810, 2735-2745