Bisphenol A contamination in plastic bottles
Plastic water bottles were taken off the shelves in Canada last month and caused concerns worldwide. The offending substance in the bottles is bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC). In the latest issue of Toxicology Letters, American researchers published the results of their research on the health risks of BPA [1].
BPA is “an estrogenic high-production chemical used primarily as a monomer for the production of polycarbonate and epoxy resins.” Bioactive BPA is released from polycarbonate bottles at rates ranging from 0.20ng/h to 0.79ng/h. There is no significant difference in the BPA migration rates in new and used bottles at room temperatures. At 100°C (e.g. contact with boiling water), the migration rates increased by up to 55-fold. The estrogenic bioactivity of the BPA-like immunoreactivity released into the water samples was confirmed using an in vitro assay of rapid estrogen signaling and neurotoxicity in developing cerebellar neurons.
Based on these findings, the following conclusions can made:
- Food and beverages which come in contact with epoxy resins or polycarbonate plastic containers may be contaminated by bioactive BPA.
- Human exposure to BPA is actually widespread and the substance should therefore be as a contributing source to the total “EDC-burden”.
This is not the first study to investigate the migration of PBA. However, there are differing opinions whether the amounts released are high enough to present a health risk. Aside from plastic bottles, other BPA sources are polycarbonate dental products and food packaging [2].
Sources:
1 Le HH, Carlson EM, Chua JP, Belcher SM., 2008. Bisphenol A is released from polycarbonate drinking bottles and mimics the neurotoxic actions of estrogen in developing cerebellar neurons. Toxicol Lett. 2008 Jan 30;176(2):149-56. Epub 2007 Nov 19.
2 Howdeshell KL, Peterman PH, Judy BM, Taylor JA, Orazio CE, Ruhlen RL, Vom Saal FS, Welshons WV., 2003. Bisphenol A is released from used polycarbonate animal cages into water at room temperature. Environ Health Perspect. 2003 Jul;111(9):1180-7.
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