A study led by University of California, Davis, toxicologist Michael Denison and CertiChem, Inc. founder George Bittner has allegedly found that some hard, clear thermoplastic resins made without bisphenol A (BPA) still release chemicals with estrogenic activity (EA). George Bittner, et al., “Chemicals having estrogenic activity can be released from some bisphenol a-free, hard and clear, thermoplastic resins,” Environmental Health, December 2014. According to the study, which used in vitro assays “to quantify the EA of chemicals leached into ethanol or water/saline extracts of fourteen unstressed or stressed (autoclaving, microwaving, UV radiation) thermoplastic resins,” four types of resin “leached chemicals having significant levels of EA.” In particular, the authors noted that UV radiation increased the probability that certain thermoplastic resins would leach chemicals with detectable EA levels. However, the study stopped short of assigning any human health effects to the consumption of these chemicals, as no scientists or other entities “have…
Tag Archives BPA
The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has updated its Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Work Plan for Chemical Assessments to include bisphenol A (BPA), seven phthalates and 15 other substances. Designed to help the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics identify chemicals with “the highest potential for exposure and hazard,” the TSCA Work Plan in 2012 flagged 83 chemicals as part of an ongoing initiative to expedite assessments for substances believed to have reproductive, developmental or neurotoxic effects, as well as those that are “probable or known carcinogens” or “persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic.” The plan also targets substances used in children’s products and those that have been detected in biomonitoring programs. This latest update to the TSCA Work Plan removes 15 chemicals and adds 23 new ones, bringing the total list to 90 chemicals. In addition to BPA, the chemicals added to the updated list include dibutyl phthalate, butyl benzyl phthalate, di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, di-n-octyl…
A recent study has purportedly found that “a very large amount of BPA [bisphenol A] is transferred from thermal paper to a hand as a result of holding a thermal receipt for only a few seconds immediately after using a product with dermal penetration chemicals.” Annette Hormann, et al., “Holding Thermal Receipt Paper and Eating Food After Using Hand Sanitizer Results in High Serum Bioactive and Urine Total Levels of Bisphenol A (BPA),” PLOS One, October 2014. Designed to mimic scenarios common in fast-food restaurants, the study measured dermal, serum and urine BPA levels in subjects asked to use hand sanitizer, handle a receipt and then consume 10 french fries. The data evidently showed that holding a thermal receipt for 45 seconds after using a hand sanitizer “resulted in the maximum amount of BPA that was swiped from the palm and fingers,” though this measurement “likely underestimates the amount of free…
The Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) has released the first part of its bisphenol A (BPA) report, which provides an overview of regulatory and scientific developments through March 2014. Slated for publication in 2015, the second part of the report will assess the European Food Safety Authority’s final opinion on the risks of BPA exposure for consumers; a Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks assessment of patients exposed to BPA; and two advisory reports from the Dutch Health Council on prenatal BPA exposure and BPA analogues. In addition to summarizing what is known about BPA’s environmental impact, the current report addresses human BPA exposure via consumer products, food, medical devices, and inhalation during the manufacture of BPA-containing epoxy resins. Based on this overview, RIVM concludes that despite various studies associating BPA with adverse immune effects, obesity, diabetes, and prostate cancer, “[t]here is still…
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program has announced a public meeting of the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) on October 28-30, 2014, in Louisville, Kentucky. The meeting will include recommendations from the board’s six subcommittees on a wide range of topics, including “substances petitioned to the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List), substances on the National List that require NOSB review before their 2015 and 2016 sunset dates, updates from working groups on technical issues, and amendments to guidance on organic policies.” In particular, the Handling Subcommittee intends “to take up the issue of whether to prohibit BPA [bisphenol A] in packaging material used for organic foods in light of mounting evidence that it may be harmful.” To this end, NOSB plans to prioritize research dedicated to finding “suitable alternatives for the linings of cans used for various organic products such as tomatoes, beans and…
Sen. Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Rep. Lois Capps (D-Calif.) and Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.) have introduced legislation that would ban the synthetic compound bisphenol A (BPA) from food and beverage containers, citing research reportedly linking BPA to a variety of health problems. In addition, the companion bills would authorize the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to grant one-year waivers from the provisions so long as the manufacturers begin labeling products that contain BPA. “The Ban Poisonous Additives Act will help ensure that our factories and our entire food supply are free from this damaging chemical,” Markey said. “It’s time to ban BPA and move to safer alternatives.” See Law360, July 9, 2014. Issue 529
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has issued the first phase of its Australian Total Diet Study (ATDS), which analyzed chemicals in Australian foods and beverages and concludes that acrylamide and aluminum levels are lower than or consistent with those found in similar foods in other countries. Still, FSANZ CEO Steve McCutcheon said that it was working with industry “to look at ways to reduce acrylamide levels in food, such as encouraging industry to use enzymes that reduce acrylamide formation.” Aluminum levels, which are at their highest levels in cakes, pikelets and pancakes, evidently showed “a slight exceedance for 2-5 year old high consumers.” According to FSANZ, this exceedance is unlikely to “represent a public health and safety issue—however, FSANZ is investigating whether the current permissions for aluminum-containing food additives are still appropriate.” The second ATDS phase will focus on chemicals such as bisphenol A, phthalates and perfluorinated compounds. See…
A recent study has reportedly identified an alternative hormonal receptor that mediates bisphenol A (BPA), raising questions about the purported link between BPA exposure, diabetes and obesity. Marie Tohmé, et al., “Estrogen-related receptor γ is an in vivo receptor of bisphenol A,” The Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, April 2014. Researchers with the Institute of Functional Genomics of Lyon (ENS de Lyon) and Deakin University apparently used a zebrafish model to demonstrate that “the in vivo action of [BPA] was mediated by the orphan nuclear receptor, ERRy (estrogen-related receptor),” which previous studies have implicated in metabolism regulation, insulin secretion, newborn obesity, and inner ear development. “We found that the way the BPA binds to and activates ERRy is 1000 times better than with the estrogen receptor. This means that ERRy is 1000 times more potent; a tiny amount of BPA will result in a huge…
California EPA’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has issued an updated table of available hazard identification documents or materials for chemicals considered or reconsidered for listing by the state’s qualified experts—that is, the Carcinogen Identification Committee and Developmental and Reproductive Toxicant Identification Committee—from 1996 to April 2014. The table contains links to materials on chemicals such as Bisphenol A, phthalates, MTBE, and sodium saccharin, and indicates when they were listed or de-listed. Issue 522
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has extended “the timeline to complete its full risk assessment of bisphenol A (BPA) to the end of 2014.” After receiving nearly 250 comments in response to the second part of its draft risk assessment, EFSA has emphasized the need for “a full understanding of these comments before finalizing its risk assessment of BPA.” Additional details about the draft risk assessment and an April 23, 2014, stakeholder meeting appear in Issues 511 and 515 of this Update. Issue 520
