Sponsored by Promold Plastics

You’ve probably heard of BPA and the possible related health effects. But do you know what BPA is, where it’s found, and whether it’s safe? Read on to learn more.

What is BPA?

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical present in rigid, durable plastics called polycarbonates, and in epoxy resins.[i] Polycarbonates may be used in some plastic food and beverage containers.[ii] Epoxy resins may be used to line steel and aluminum cans to keep food coming in direct contact with metal surfaces.[iii] Small amounts of BPA can leach from these items into the foods and beverages that you consume,[iv] especially when the containers are scratched or exposed to heat.[v]

Where is BPA found?

BPA can be found in both food and non-food related items. A resin code of 3 or 7 may indicate BPA.[vi] In 2013 and 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) amended its rules to no longer allow for the use of BPA-based materials in baby bottles, sippy cups, and infant formula packaging, since manufacturers had already abandoned their use.[vii] In addition, some states have restricted its use in certain other consumer products.[viii]

Here are just some of the items that may contain BPA.

  • Some plastic food and drink containers
  • The linings of some food cans (Many manufacturers now use BPA-free linings.[ix])
  • The linings of some aluminum cans. [x]
  • Some dental sealants[xi]
  • The coating on some thermal paper receipts[xii]
  • CDs and DVDs[xiii]
  • Some medical supplies[xiv]
  • Some toys [xv]
  • Some old baby bottles and sippy cups

What are the safe levels of BPA?

There’s a lot of controversy about the safety of BPA and its effects on the human body. In the past, there have been some studies on laboratory animals that link BPA to problems involving the reproductive system, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).[xvi] Other studies have suggested links to cancer, cardiovascular problems, and impaired brain development, as reported in a Newsweek article by. Douglas Main in 2015.[xvii] But questions still remain about the safe dose of BPA.

How much BPA are people exposed to in their diet? According to the Bisphenol-A Website, it is about 0.000118 mg/kg body weight per day, which is more than 400 times lower than the maximum acceptable dose of 0.05 mg/kg body weight/day set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.[xviii]

The FDA currently states on their website that “based on FDA’s ongoing safety review of scientific evidence, the available information continues to support the safety of BPA for the currently approved uses in food containers and packaging.”[xix] The FDA’s position in 2018 remains unchanged after reviewing a 2-year study on the effects of BPA on rats. The study was conducted by the Consortium Linking Academic and Regulatory Insights on BPA Toxicity (CLARITY-BPA Program), which was initiated by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), the National Toxicology Program (NTP), and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).[xx]

The FDA plans to continue reviewing information and studies,[xxi] including the CLARITY BPA draft NTP report that was published in 2018.[xxii] In the meantime, the debate about the safety of BPA will likely continue.

[i] U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “Bisphenol A (BPA): Use in Food Contact Application.” Accessed November 9, 2018. https://www.fda.gov/newsevents/publichealthfocus/ucm064437.htm

[ii] Bisphenol-A Website. (Sponsored by the Polycarbonate/BPA Global Group). “About BPA.” Accessed November 9, 2018. http://www.bisphenol-a.org/about/faq.html

[iii] U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “Bisphenol A (BPA): Use in Food Contact Application.” Accessed November 9, 2018. https://www.fda.gov/newsevents/publichealthfocus/ucm064437.htm

[iv] U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “Bisphenol A (BPA): Use in Food Contact Application.” Accessed November 9, 2018. https://www.fda.gov/newsevents/publichealthfocus/ucm064437.htm

[v] National Capital Poison Center. “BPA and the Controversy About Plastic Food Containers. Plastic Containers: Are They Harmful?” Accessed November 11, 2018. https://www.poison.org/articles/2010-mar/plastic-containers-are-they-harmful

National Conference of State Legislators. “NCSL Policy Update: State Restrictions on Bisphenol A (BPA) in Consumer Products.” February 2015. Accessed November 10, 2018. http://www.ncsl.org/research/environment-and-natural-resources/policy-update-on-state-restrictions-on-bisphenol-a.aspx#ct

[vi] National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. “Bisphenol A (BPA).” Accessed November 9, 2018. https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/sya-bpa/index.cfm

[vii] U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “Bisphenol A (BPA): Use in Food Contact Application.” Accessed November 9, 2018. https://www.fda.gov/newsevents/publichealthfocus/ucm064437.htm

[viii] National Conference of State Legislators. “NCSL Policy Update: State Restrictions on Bisphenol A (BPA) in Consumer Products.” February 2015. Accessed November 10, 2018. http://www.ncsl.org/research/environment-and-natural-resources/policy-update-on-state-restrictions-on-bisphenol-a.aspx#ct

[ix] McTigue-Pierce, Lisa. “Most food cans no longer use BPA in their linings” Packaging Digest. February 20, 2018. Accessed November 9, 2018. https://www.packagingdigest.com/food-packaging/most-food-cans-no-longer-use-bpa-in-their-linings-2018-02-20

[x] Aluminum Organization. “BPA in Aluminum Cans.” Accessed November 10, 2018. https://www.aluminum.org/bpa-aluminum-cans

[xi] American Dental Association. “BPA in Dental Sealants Safe.” Accessed November 10, 2018. https://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/august/bpa-in-dental-sealants-safe

[xii] Consumer Reports. “The risky chemical lurking in your wallet.”  March 29, 2014. Accessed November 10, 2018. https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2014/03/the-health-risk-of-bpa-in-receipts/index.htm

[xiii] Bisphenol-A Website. (Sponsored by the Polycarbonate/BPA Global Group). “About BPA.” Accessed November 9, 2018. http://www.bisphenol-a.org/about/faq.html

[xiv] Facts About BPA.org. “What is BPA?” Accessed November 10, 2018. https://www.factsaboutbpa.org/bpa-overview/bpa-basics

[xv] Center for Disease Control and Prevention. “Bisphenol A (BPA) Factsheet.” Accessed November 10, 2018. https://www.cdc.gov/biomonitoring/BisphenolA_FactSheet.html

[xvi] Center for Disease Control and Prevention. “Bisphenol A (BPA) Factsheet.” Accessed November 10, 2018. https://www.cdc.gov/biomonitoring/BisphenolA_FactSheet.html

[xvii] Main, Douglas. “BPA Is Fine, If You Ignore Most Studies About It.” Newsweek. March 4, 2015. Accessed November 10, 2018. https://www.newsweek.com/2015/03/13/bpa-fine-if-you-ignore-most-studies-about-it-311203.html

[xviii] Bisphenol-A Website. Sponsored by the Polycarbonate/BPA Global Group. “Bisphenol A and Consumer Safety.” Accessed November 9, 2018. http://bisphenol-a.org/human/consafety.html

[xix] U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “Questions & Answers on Bisphenol A (BPA) Use in Food Contact Applications.” Accessed November 9, 2018. https://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/FoodAdditivesIngredients/ucm355155.htm

[xx] National Toxicology Program. “CLARITY-BPA Program.” Accessed November 9, 2018. https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/results/areas/bpa/index.html

[xxi] U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “Questions & Answers on Bisphenol A (BPA) Use in Food Contact Applications.” Accessed November 9, 2018. https://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/FoodAdditivesIngredients/ucm355155.htm

[xxii] National Toxicology Program. 2018. NTP Research Report on the CLARITYBPA Core Study: A Perinatal and Chronic Extended-Dose-Range Study of Bisphenol A in Rats. NTP RR 9. Research Triangle Park, NC. National Toxicology Program (9): 1-221. Accessed November 9, 2018. https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/results/pubs/rr/reports/rr09_508.pdf

Bibliography

Aluminum Organization. “BPA in Aluminum Cans.” Accessed November 10, 2018. https://www.aluminum.org/bpa-aluminum-cans

American Dental Association. “BPA in dental sealants safe..” Accessed November 10, 2018. https://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/august/bpa-in-dental-sealants-safe

Bisphenol-A Website. (Sponsored by the Polycarbonate/BPA Global Group). “About BPA.” Accessed November 9, 2018. http://www.bisphenol-a.org/about/faq.html

Bisphenol-A Website. (Sponsored by the Polycarbonate/BPA Global Group). “Bisphenol A Myths.” Accessed November 9, 2018. http://www.bisphenol-a.org/about/faq.html

Bisphenol-A Website. (Sponsored by the Polycarbonate/BPA Global Group). “Bisphenol A and Consumer Safety.” Accessed November 9, 2018. http://bisphenol-a.org/human/consafety.html

Center for Disease Control and Prevention. “Bisphenol A (BPA) Factsheet.” Accessed November 10, 2018. https://www.cdc.gov/biomonitoring/BisphenolA_FactSheet.html

Consumer Reports. “The risky chemical lurking in your wallet.”  March 29, 2014. Accessed November 10, 2018. https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2014/03/the-health-risk-of-bpa-in-receipts/index.htm

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Facts About BPA.org. “What is BPA?” Accessed November 10, 2018. https://www.factsaboutbpa.org/bpa-overview/bpa-basics

Hamilton, Jon. “Plastic Additive BPA Not Much Of A Threat, Government Study Finds. NPR: National Public Radio. February 23, 2018. Accessed November 9, 2018. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/02/23/588356360/plastic-additive-bpa-not-much-of-a-threat-government-study-finds

Hoffman, Matthew, MD. Web MD. “Pots, Pans, and Plastics: A Shopper’s Guide to Food Safety.” Accessed November 10, 2018. https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/cookware-plastics-shoppers-guide-to-food-safety#1

Main, Douglas. “BPA Is Fine, If You Ignore Most Studies About It.” Newsweek. March 4, 2015. Accessed November 10, 2018. https://www.newsweek.com/2015/03/13/bpa-fine-if-you-ignore-most-studies-about-it-311203.html

May, Ashley. “Don’t microwave children’s food in plastic containers, avoid dishwasher, doctors warn.” USA Today. August 3, 2018. Accessed November 10, 2018. https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/allthemoms/news/2018/08/03/dont-microwave-childrens-plastic-food-containers-doctors-say/896952002/

Mayo Clinic. “What is BPA, and what are the concerns about BPA?” Accessed November 9, 2018. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/bpa/faq-20058331

McTigue-Pierce, Lisa. “Most food cans no longer use BPA in their linings” Packaging Digest. February 20, 2018. Accessed November 9, 2018. https://www.packagingdigest.com/food-packaging/most-food-cans-no-longer-use-bpa-in-their-linings-2018-02-20

National Capital Poison Center. “BPA and the Controversy About Plastic Food Containers. Plastic Containers: Are They Harmful?” Accessed November 11, 2018. https://www.poison.org/articles/2010-mar/plastic-containers-are-they-harmful

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. “Bisphenol A (BPA).” Accessed November 9, 2018. https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/sya-bpa/index.cfm

National Toxicology Program. “CLARITY-BPA Program” Accessed November 9, 2018. https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/results/areas/bpa/index.html

National Toxicology Program. 2018. NTP Research Report on the CLARITYBPA Core Study: A Perinatal and Chronic Extended-Dose-Range Study of Bisphenol A in Rats. NTP RR 9. Research Triangle Park, NC. National Toxicology Program (9): 1-221. Accessed November 9, 2018. https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/results/pubs/rr/reports/rr09_508.pdf

United States Environmental Protection Agency.” Risk Management for Bisphenol A (BPA).” Accessed November 9, 2018. https://www.epa.gov/assessing-and-managing-chemicals-under-tsca/risk-management-bisphenol-bpa