Japanese Research Institute Claims BPA Poses “Very Small” Risk to Human Health

A Japanese research institute recently issued an updated hazard assessment
of bisphenol A (BPA) suggesting that the chemical poses minimal or no risk
to human health. The Research Institute of Science and Sustainability (RISS),
which is part of Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and
Technology, examined BPA data “from 2005 onwards” to assess its general
toxicity as well as its reproductive toxicity in the next generation.

According to the assessment’s abstract, “no toxic effects on the reproductive potential of the next generation except for a slight prolongation of gestational length of F1/F2 at 300 mg/kg bw, and a no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) of 50 mg/kg bw have been noted.” It also said that BPA carcinogenicity by “oral administration has already been determined to be negative from bioassays.” The abstract added, “with regard to skin irritation, skin sensitization, skin photo-irritability, and photo-sensitization due to BPA, it was believed that there is almost no need for concern because these were found to be negative in animal testings at a practical dose level.” Using BPA exposure estimates in Japanese individuals and no-observed-adverse-effect level from animal testings for their hazard assessment, the researchers concluded, “the risk of BPA with regard to human health was believed to be very small.”