Rhesus Monkey Study Allegedly Reveals Link Between BPA and Breast Cancer

A recent study has reportedly claimed that bisphenol A (BPA) alters mammary gland development in rhesus monkeys, raising concerns about the chemical’s alleged link to breast cancer in humans. Andrew Tharp, et al., “Bisphenol A alters the development of the rhesus monkey mammary gland,” PNAS, May 2012. According to the study, researchers fed fruit containing 400 µg of BPA per kilogram of body weight to pregnant rhesus monkeys to achieve BPA serum levels “comparable to [those] found in humans.” The authors then examined the mammary glands of female offspring after birth, noting that “the density of mammary glands was significantly increased in BPA-exposed monkeys, and the overall development of their mammary gland was more advanced compared with unexposed monkeys.”

Based on these results, one study author told media sources that the sum of
scientific evidence suggests that BPA is also “a breast carcinogen in humans”
and that its use should be reduced.“Previous studies in mice have demonstrated
that low doses of BPA alter the developing mammary gland and
that these subtle changes increase the risk of cancer in the adult,” explained
another study author in a May 7, 2012, ScienceDaily article. “Some have
questioned the relevance of these findings in mice to humans. But finding the
same thing in a primate model really hits uncomfortably close to home.”

Meanwhile, the American Chemistry Council (ACC) has reportedly drawn
attention to the study’s limited scope. “It’s hard to see the study’s relevance
to humans, as only four or five animals were tested and the dose used was
10,000 times higher than typical human exposure to BPA, as documented by
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s large-scale biomonitoring
studies,” an ACC spokesperson said. See McClatchy Newspapers, May 7, 2012.