Some chemicals are toxic in human bodies and that is why chemical-specific legislations are becoming increasingly common across the country. Legislations seek to regulate production and selling of products containing such harmful chemicals in interstate commerce efficiently regulating those products nationwide. Products containing phthalates, mercury, brominated flame retardants, and many other chemicals have been the subject of such bills but products containing bisphenol A (BPA) have attracted most attention in 2009 (Beveridge & Diamond, 2009). BPA is a monomer used to manufacture various everyday products. Research has found out that BPA is toxic on humans and products containing BPA leach a significant amount of BPA to their users. This paper gives a brief introduction of BPA, describes the debate surrounding its safety, and analysis information gathered by “the work group for safe markets” on BPA leaching from popular baby bottles. It is presumed that food and beverages from containers manufactured with BPA are harmful since BPA leaches into them and should be avoided.
Uses of BPA and its Toxicology
BPA is a monomer commonly used in the production of epoxy resins, polycarbonate plastic, among other uses (Association of Plastics Manufacturers). These products are in turn used to manufacture everyday products such as baby bottles, sports bottles and sippy cups (using polycarbonates); and the inner linings of containers for food and beverage packaging (using epoxy resins) (Association of Plastics Manufacturers). Other uses of BPA-containing materials include manufacturing of optical media such as CDs and DVDs; safety equipments, construction materials; medical equipments; dental sealants; composites for storage tanks, gas bottles, and windmill blades; electronics; adhesives; and coil coatings for furniture and household appliances (Association of Plastics Manufacturers).
However, before BPA started being used for industrial purposes, it had been used in medical field to control difficult pregnancies. In 1936, medical researchers discovered that that BPA could be used as a synthetic hormone to mimic estrogen and help in controlling difficult pregnancies (Beveridge & Diamond, 2009). The findings were appreciated by some practitioners though BPA use for this purpose did not supersede use of diethyl sybestral which had been determined to be more effective. Unfortunately, it was identified later that these chemicals were cancer-causing agents which contributed to serious reproductive defects (including vaginal cancer) in the daughters of those who had taken the chemicals during pregnancy (Beveridge & Diamond, 2009). This made use of BPA for such purpose to stop. However, in the 1950s scientists discovered that BPA could be polymerized to produce commercial plastics (Beveridge & Diamond, 2009). This discovery opened a new chapter on use of BPA and it has increasingly continued to be used in the production of epoxy resins and polycarbonates plastics.
Currently, about 95 percent of baby bottles being sold are made with BPA (Association of Plastics Manufacturers). Worldwide production of BPA exceeds six billion pounds annually and the demand for the chemical has increased significantly in the recent years (Association of Plastics Manufacturers). Therefore, it is clear that exposure to BPA is widespread. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed this when it carried a test in 2008 and found that 95 percent of Americans tested had detectable levels of BPA in their bodies (Beveridge & Diamond, 2009). The study also revealed that BPA levels were lowest in adults, average in adolescents, and highest in children.
Scientists seem to agree that adverse health effects by BPA occur in animals at levels within the exposure range common for people in developed countries; levels well below the US Environmental Protection Agency’s acceptable human exposure level of 50 μg/kg/day (Momscape). Scientific literatures also demonstrate a wide range of health problems at lower levels of BPA than the considered “acceptable” with some citing levels as low as 2 μg/kg/day (Momscape). As a hormone disruptor, BPA mimic estrogen response in cells. It binds with estrogen-related receptors but does not carry out the activity of estrogen. Consequently, it adds a “false” estrogen effect in the body offsetting the hormonal balance necessary for healthy human development. Experiments with animals relate low level exposure to a range of serious health problems including early onset of puberty, prostate and breast cancer, obesity, hyperactivity, miscarriage, lower sperm count, diabetes, and altered immune system (Momscape).
According to suggestion by animal studies on BPA, the chemical is quickly absorbed and eliminated in the body but some residual traces remain in the intestines, liver, and kidneys for several days (The work group for safe markets). The studies also discovered presence of BPA in urine and blood. This implies that BPA is circulated through all body parts and excreted from the body mainly through urine.
Debate Surrounding the Safety of BPA
Controversy on safety of BPA started in 2008 after Environment Canada and the National Toxicological Program and Health Canada highlighted that the current exposure levels of BPA posed a health concern. They argued that in some circumstances, traces of BPA could leach out of epoxy resins or polycarbonate plastics at low concentrations (Beveridge & Diamond, 2009). Therefore, they cautioned that people may get exposed to BPA through use of products made from these materials to handle food and beverages. The ongoing debate surrounding the safety of BPA hovers around the levels of exposure which are safe for infants, children, and adults. Those who claim the current exposure levels to be safe base their argument on “low dose” which discredit the effects of low doses and vice versa.
Those who support the effects of low concentrations challenge the current acceptable daily intake level of BPA set by U.S.EPA of 50 μg/kg bodyweight/day. They claim that new scientific evidence proves that even low doses of BPA can disrupt development (Beveridge & Diamond, 2009). In fact, one scientific study seemed to conform with them when it revealed that BPA levels as low as parts per trillion can alter cell function (Beveridge & Diamond, 2009). This confirms the fact that extremely low-doses of BPA can be potent.
Those who oppose the effects of low levels of BPA claim that the effects of BPA are often exaggerated. They stress on the point that toxic effects of BPA occur only at very high levels of exposure (Beveridge & Diamond, 2009). Accordingly, there is no risk from environmentally relevant levels. They also claim that none of the validated confirms that BPA can cause adverse effects from normal exposure through consumer products. Therefore, environmental and product -related exposure levels are taken to be well below any known hazardous level. For instance, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) maintained its position that the current levels of BPA exposure through food packaging or product use do not pose an intermediate health risk to anyone including infants and young children (Beveridge & Diamond, 2009).
Interestingly, evidence from national regulatory agencies around the world reveals that they all tend to agree that BPA is generally safe at the current exposure levels (with the exception of Canada) (Beveridge & Diamond, 2009). However, various legislatures have proposed numerous measures to restrict the use of BPA in children’s products and in food and beverages containers. In addition, there has been a lot of public concern about BPA in the marketplace. A significant number of retailers have committed not to stock certain products containing BPA and some manufacturers have also committed to review their production process to eliminate use of BPA. Considering the ambiguity of science and the absence of regulatory agency support for BPA regulations, the current drive to abolish key uses of BPA is remarkable.
Analysis of Data and Information Collected on BPA Leaching on Baby’s Bottles
According to the data gathered by “the work group for safe markets” on BPA leaching from popular baby bottles, BPA was revealed to reach out of six major brands of baby bottles in the US and Canada market (The work group for safe markets). Their tests found BPA to leach from popular bottle brand at levels between five and eight parts per million (5-8 μg/kg) when heated (The work group for safe markets). Relating these results to those of laboratory tests with animals at such levels which revealed to cause a myriad of adverse effects, the researchers claimed that these levels are also adverse to infants’ health (The work group for safe markets). The information was obtained from 150 peer-reviewed journal articles on BPA.This gives a clear indication that the current lack of regulation on BPA may be exposing infants to potentially dangerous levels of BPA.
The study also revealed that the levels of BPA leaching increased when the bottles were heated with some bottles even having higher leaching rates (The work group for safe markets). Leaching also increased with normal wear conditions in the bottle; those that had some degree of wear leached most. On the other hand, repeated washing of the bottles (60-100 washes) showed increase in reaching with increased washing (The work group for safe markets). These results are alarming since babies bottles are often heated or used with warm liquids. Additionally, the bottles often wear out in normal usage and cleaning is a process carried out frequently on them. Polycarbonate plastic bottles degrade with repeated washing or exposure to heat increasing the rate of leaching. Use of detergents or pouring acidic liquids such as apple juice on them may also accelerate leaching by breaking the bonds that hold BPA molecules together. Therefore, it means that BPA leaching from baby bottles cannot be avoided. People might avoid heating them or pouring warm liquids on them but washing or pouring acidic liquids on the bottles may also increase the chances of leaching.
During the experiment, glass bottles were used as negative and positive controls containing either untreated water or water spiked with BPA (8.5 μg/ml). The bottles did not reveal significant levels of leaching at room temperatures but they all showed significant levels of leaching when heated (in the range of 5-8 μg/ml) (The work group for safe markets). These results confirm that leaching increases with heating and heated bottles are a potential health risk to infants drinking from them.
My Opinion on use of BPA in Consumer Products
Based on several scientific findings and the findings on leaching in baby’s bottles, it is my opinion that BPA should be banned for use in consumer products. As it is argued by some that low levels of BPA exposure are not dangerous, reliable sources indicate otherwise. To be on the safe side, BPA consumer products should be eliminated. Moreover, who knows that the researches which try to prove otherwise may be sponsored by unscrupulous manufacturers who want to remain in business? According to this research on baby bottles, leaching was evident at low levels and increased with washing and heating. This implies that baby bottles will continue to expose babies to BPA as long as they continue being manufactured from BPA-containing materials. Relying on the scientific evidences that BPA is dangerous at low levels of exposure, this means that infants who rely on BPA-containing bottles for feeding will have adverse health conditions in future. Therefore, the only sure way of preventing this is to ban use of BPA in consumer products and not to burry our heads in the sand and assume that low levels of exposure are not harmful.
To do so, manufacturers and retailers should phase out BPA-containing consumer products in favor of other safer alternatives. States should also act swiftly and adopt policies that can protect consumers and regulate BPA use in consumer products (all food and beverage containing products). Champions at all government levels have the responsibility of working together to reform the outdated chemical policies that seem to be failing to protect citizens from chemicals already in the market. This also include coming up with policies to regulate leaching of these chemicals from consumer goods to food and beverages. Lastly, conclusive, publicly available health information on industrial chemicals should be made to arm consumers with vital information that can help them make safer product choices.
Conclusion
Bisphenol A is a chemical that had been used to control difficult pregnancies but later abandoned due to the adverse health effects it posed on women. Manufacturers adopted it afterwards as a monomer in several industrial processes especially those producing epoxy resins and polycarbonate plastics. These materials have also been used to manufacture several consumer goods which have aroused a heated public debate. Relying on several studies including the one discussed before on baby’s bottle BPA leaching, it is evident that BPA leaches from these products contaminating food and beverages. As it happened before when BPA was banned for controlling difficult pregnancies due to its adverse effects, the chemical should also be banned from use in consumer products regardless of the views from those who claim it is safe at lower levels. Banning and consequent regulation by effective legislations is the only sure way of ensuring a healthy generation free from the myriad health complications associated with BPA.
References
Association of Plastics Manufacturers. (2007). Applications of Bisphenol A . PlasticsEurope, Retrieved December 15, 2009 from http://www.bisphenol a europe.org/uploads/BPA%20applications.pdf
Beveridge & Diamond. (April 17, 2009). Bisphenol A ban proposals proliferate. Retrieved December 15, 2009 from http://www.bdlaw.com/news-548.html
Momscape. (n.d.). BPA-free baby bottles: What you need to know. Retrieved December 15, 2009 from http://www.momscape.com/articles/bpa-free.htm
The work group for safemarkets. (n.d.). Baby’s toxic bottle: Bisphenol A leaching from popular baby bottles. Retrieved December 15, 2009 from http://www.chej.org/documents/BabysToxicBottleFinal.pdf