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No toxic effects from controversial food packet chemical, say experts No toxic effects from controversial food packet chemical, say experts
(7 months later)
A controversial industrial chemical used in food packaging and baby's bottles that has been linked to a range of human disorders including diabetes and obesity may be an innocent bystander rather than the cause of problems, according to experts.A controversial industrial chemical used in food packaging and baby's bottles that has been linked to a range of human disorders including diabetes and obesity may be an innocent bystander rather than the cause of problems, according to experts.
Diseases associated with exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) could be more simply explained by an unhealthy diet of pre-packaged fast foods that come in plastic wrapping containing the chemical.Diseases associated with exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) could be more simply explained by an unhealthy diet of pre-packaged fast foods that come in plastic wrapping containing the chemical.
Evidence to support the idea comes from the results of a study that pooled the exposure to BPA of more than 30,000 people. This showed that the general population's exposure to the chemical was too low to have any toxic effects. BPA has been used to make hard plastics since the 60s but has caused alarm in recent years as it can leach into foods and drinks and has the – albeit weak – potential to mimic oestrogen if it ends up at high enough levels in the blood.Evidence to support the idea comes from the results of a study that pooled the exposure to BPA of more than 30,000 people. This showed that the general population's exposure to the chemical was too low to have any toxic effects. BPA has been used to make hard plastics since the 60s but has caused alarm in recent years as it can leach into foods and drinks and has the – albeit weak – potential to mimic oestrogen if it ends up at high enough levels in the blood.
In 2012 the US Food and Drug Administration [] prevented the use of BPA in baby bottles.In 2012 the US Food and Drug Administration [] prevented the use of BPA in baby bottles.
Richard Sharpe, of the Medical Research Council's Centre for Reproductive Health at the University of Edinburgh, said a long list of studies had shown human exposure to BPA, measured in urine, is associated with a growing number of what he calls "western diseases" such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, liver dysfunction and cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.Richard Sharpe, of the Medical Research Council's Centre for Reproductive Health at the University of Edinburgh, said a long list of studies had shown human exposure to BPA, measured in urine, is associated with a growing number of what he calls "western diseases" such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, liver dysfunction and cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
In a statement ahead of a talk at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Boston, Sharpe said exposure to BPA had also been associated with adverse reproductive changes, an increased risk of polycystic ovarian disease and reduced semen quality and blood testosterone levels. Though high levels of BPA have been found in people with these conditions, he said, no causal link has been found between the chemical and any disease.In a statement ahead of a talk at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Boston, Sharpe said exposure to BPA had also been associated with adverse reproductive changes, an increased risk of polycystic ovarian disease and reduced semen quality and blood testosterone levels. Though high levels of BPA have been found in people with these conditions, he said, no causal link has been found between the chemical and any disease.
Justin Teeguarden, a toxicologist at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Washington, presented a study at the AAAS meeting which showed that the amount of BPA present in the blood of the general population was at usually least 1,000 times lower than the levels that are known to cause toxicity in animals.Justin Teeguarden, a toxicologist at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Washington, presented a study at the AAAS meeting which showed that the amount of BPA present in the blood of the general population was at usually least 1,000 times lower than the levels that are known to cause toxicity in animals.
Teeguarden pooled the results of 150 studies of human exposure to BPA, collecting data from more than 30,000 people in 19 countries. BPA is known to bind to the same receptors in the body as oestrogen but it does so more weakly – to have any meaningful biological effects in humans, therefore, BPA concentrations need to be relatively high in the blood.Teeguarden pooled the results of 150 studies of human exposure to BPA, collecting data from more than 30,000 people in 19 countries. BPA is known to bind to the same receptors in the body as oestrogen but it does so more weakly – to have any meaningful biological effects in humans, therefore, BPA concentrations need to be relatively high in the blood.
His study consistently found that levels of BPA in people were much lower than the levels required for significant effects. The analysis showed that BPA levels were often so low that it was below the ability of current toxicological methods to detect it, raising the possibility that most instances of high BPA dose might have been the result of contamination from tubes and plastics in hospitals.His study consistently found that levels of BPA in people were much lower than the levels required for significant effects. The analysis showed that BPA levels were often so low that it was below the ability of current toxicological methods to detect it, raising the possibility that most instances of high BPA dose might have been the result of contamination from tubes and plastics in hospitals.
Teeguarden said regulators around the world – including the European Food Safety Authority and a Japanese government technical panel – had already concluded that exposure to BPA was much lower than that which would be expected to cause bad effects. "My findings are consistent with their carefully thought out positions," he said.Teeguarden said regulators around the world – including the European Food Safety Authority and a Japanese government technical panel – had already concluded that exposure to BPA was much lower than that which would be expected to cause bad effects. "My findings are consistent with their carefully thought out positions," he said.
Sharpe said no scientific studies had yet showed that BPA exposure caused disorders. "If this association was due to cause and effect, it would mean that bisphenol A was incredibly potent and toxic, and this does not agree with published studies," he wrote. "This possibility therefore seems illogical."Sharpe said no scientific studies had yet showed that BPA exposure caused disorders. "If this association was due to cause and effect, it would mean that bisphenol A was incredibly potent and toxic, and this does not agree with published studies," he wrote. "This possibility therefore seems illogical."
An alternative hypothesis, he said, was that there could be a different, causal element that is associated both with the human disorders and with exposure to bisphenol A.An alternative hypothesis, he said, was that there could be a different, causal element that is associated both with the human disorders and with exposure to bisphenol A.
"I will suggest that this … factor is diet, or more accurately a modern western diet, because we know that such a diet is associated with all of the disorders that are mentioned above. Moreover, we already know that 95% of human exposure to bisphenol A is dietary – it comes from foods and drinks that we ingest." If he is correct, Sharpe said, it would mean that the poor fast-food western diet would be the cause of the diseases and also, coincidentally, the increased levels of BPA in unhealthy people. "The latter is 'innocently' associated … as a result.""I will suggest that this … factor is diet, or more accurately a modern western diet, because we know that such a diet is associated with all of the disorders that are mentioned above. Moreover, we already know that 95% of human exposure to bisphenol A is dietary – it comes from foods and drinks that we ingest." If he is correct, Sharpe said, it would mean that the poor fast-food western diet would be the cause of the diseases and also, coincidentally, the increased levels of BPA in unhealthy people. "The latter is 'innocently' associated … as a result."
Sharpe said it would not be right to assume that his explanation was correct without further testing but said the attraction of his idea was that it fitted with the available facts, unlike the idea that BPA caused the disorders. "[That] fails because of our exceedingly low exposure levels."Sharpe said it would not be right to assume that his explanation was correct without further testing but said the attraction of his idea was that it fitted with the available facts, unlike the idea that BPA caused the disorders. "[That] fails because of our exceedingly low exposure levels."
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