Is the Amount of Bisphenol a (BPA) Getting Into Our Foods Safe?

Check out this answer from Consensus:

Based on current scientific evidence and regulatory assessments, the amount of BPA entering our foods is considered safe under the established limits. However, continuous monitoring and research are essential to ensure that these safety standards remain protective of public health. Consumers should stay informed about regulatory updates and ongoing studies to make well-informed decisions about their dietary choices.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a synthetic chemical widely used in the production of plastics and epoxy resins, which are commonly found in food and beverage containers. Given its extensive use, there is growing concern about the potential health risks associated with BPA exposure through dietary intake. This article aims to explore whether the amount of BPA entering our foods is safe, based on recent scientific findings and regulatory opinions.

BPA Exposure Through Food

BPA can migrate into food from containers made with BPA-containing materials. Studies have shown that food intake is a significant route of BPA exposure for humans, affecting various age groups, including infants who are particularly vulnerable1 2. For instance, a study in Southwest Nigeria found BPA concentrations in commonly consumed foods, with vegetable oil having the highest concentration at 28.4 ng/g, although these levels were below the European Commission’s limit of 600 ng/g4.

Health Risks Associated with BPA

BPA is known to be an endocrine disruptor, which means it can interfere with hormone function. Research has linked BPA exposure to various adverse health effects, including cancer, infertility, diabetes, and obesity1 7. Despite these concerns, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has concluded that current levels of BPA exposure do not pose a health risk to the general population, including vulnerable groups like infants and pregnant women2 9.

Regulatory Stance and Safety Limits

The EFSA has set a temporary Tolerable Daily Intake (t-TDI) for BPA at 4 µg/kg body weight per day, significantly lower than the previous limit of 50 µg/kg bw/day2 9. This reduction reflects ongoing research and refined data on BPA toxicity and exposure. Studies have shown that the highest estimated dietary intake of BPA is well below this t-TDI, suggesting that current exposure levels are within safe limits2 5 10.

Ongoing Research and Monitoring

While current exposure levels are deemed safe, ongoing research continues to investigate the potential long-term effects of BPA. For example, studies have shown that BPA can alter gut microbiota, which may contribute to metabolic disorders like type II diabetes and obesity7. Additionally, the presence of BPA analogues such as BPS and BPF, which are used as alternatives, also raises concerns about their safety3 5.

 

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Is the amount of bisphenol A (BPA) getting into our foods safe?

Harry MacKay has answered Unlikely

An expert from Baylor College of Medicine in Neuroscience, Endocrinology

I answered ‘unlikely’ to this because I believe that on balance, it’s better to be safe than sorry and there’s clear evidence that BPA is an endocrine disruptor that can have negative effects in a variety of model systems. Many of these, I should point out, involve environmentally relevant doses of BPA and their effects on rather subtle molecular and histological measures in well-controlled animal and in-vitro studies. These are informative, but they don’t usually map on to any obvious human clinical markers, and thus are more ‘proof of principle’ rather than indicative of some kind of measurable disease process in humans. As a consequence, they are not amenable to large-scale epidemiological measures that might prove similar effects in humans, nor are they easily replicated by “good laboratory practice”, large-scale safety studies conventionally used in toxicology.

In fact I think that whatever the effect of our current levels of BPA exposure is, it’s likely to be almost impossible to detect in any kind of reasonable epidemiological design. This has to do with the apparent subtlety of its effects on molecular biology in the very specific experimental models in which it’s been tested (these models can’t be used in human studies). But it’s also because exposure is so ubiquitous – what kind of control group could you use if >90% of people are exposed to BPA on a daily basis? Those with lower rates of exposure have some pretty obvious socioeconomic confounds which come from the fact that being ‘BPA-free’ is primarily an option for people with enough wealth, time, and resources to live that lifestyle.

Another thing to consider is the fact that BPA-free products often just replace BPA with BPS or some other bisphenol polymer, and these alternatives are also being shown to have endocrine disrupting effects. So an argument could be made for sticking with the devil we know and minimizing the waste associated with switching to a new line of polymers every few years (it’s often suggested that the plastics industry marginalizes scientific work that could endanger BPA sales, but I think they’d be perfectly happy if we all had to keep buying new stuff every year to replace polymers that turned out to be endocrine disruptors). Overall a move away from BPA-based plastics would be a good thing, but only if it’s done in an environmentally friendly way that leads to a net reduction in plastic waste and fossil fuel use (both of which are more dangerous to us in the long term than BPA itself).

 

Is the amount of bisphenol A (BPA) getting into our foods safe?

Michael Thoene has answered Unlikely

An expert from University of Warmia and Mazury in Molecular Biology

Based upon our research and many correlation studies, the current level of “safe” BPA exposure is set too high. Therefore, the current levels of bisphenol exposure (mainly obtained through microwaving foodstuffs in plastic containers) need to be revised downwards. This is a very new problem that was only recognized in 2007. Since then, the US and the EU have banned BPA from use in products for young children. This is because BPA has a pronounced effect on developing vertebrates (children) and can cause metabolic disorders (childhood obesity, diabetes, and increased BMI) as well as psychological problems (ADHD, increased aggression, and even PTSD). We have also seen liver damage in large animal models as well as increased neural markers. Quite literally, the plastics we reheat our food in may be seriously harming our children; as well as causing reproductive problems and cancer. The public should be made aware to never reheat food in plastic containers of any kind. Recent “BPA free” technologies may not be any better than the original BPA. The science is to young to recommend any safe plastic alternatives. Unfortunately, BPA is an extremely common plastic polymer encountered in the modern world (all canned foods, drinks, etc.), and can be detected in blood and urine samples around the entire world.

Essentially, there is no real “safe level” of BPA. Very small amounts of BPA (even if legal) can cause serious problems for children and pregnant mothers. The entire world should be made aware that microwaving food in any plastic container may be extremely dangerous – especially if this food is for a child or a pregnant woman.

 

Is the amount of bisphenol A (BPA) getting into our foods safe?

Lucie Kolatorova has answered Unlikely

An expert from Institute of Endocrinology in Endocrinology, Biochemistry, Pharmaceutics

This issue in not only problematics of BPA, but also of other bisphenols. In connection with the BPA restrictions, many “BPA-free plastics” were introduced to the market; however, although the BPA-free label has proved to be a valuable marketing strategy, it provides no guarantee of a safer product. In these plastics, BPA was often replaced by analogues such as BPS or BPF. In principle, harmful compounds should ideally be substituted by inert or at least less-toxic substances than the original. Unfortunately, the majority of substitutes are not tested before their introduction to the market, and they often exhibit similar or even more potent disrupting effects than the originals. Results of various studies have indicated that the potencies, metabolism and mechanism of actions of BPS and BPF are similar to BPA, and considering hormonal actions they may pose similar potential health risks as BPA. Despite these findings, monitoring and examining the effects of alternative bisphenols is still limited, and their use has not yet been regulated.

Moreover, the alternative bisphenols may occur in the consumer products together with BPA of allowed limit. Total bisphenol levels may be therefore substantially higher than the levels of BPA alone. The rapid emergence BPA substitutes has not only complicated attempts to understand the risks posed by human BPA exposure, but also amplifies the problematics of risk assessment because the risk posed by each new bisphenol is now a concern.

In the light of these concerns, the potential risk for the fetus from bisphenol exposure in pregnancy is likely an important issue. There are various restrictions and recommendations concerning BPA exposure to newborns and children; however, the risks associated with pregnancy are usually not highlighted. Considering the recent data it is also important to note that using “BPA-free” products is not a safe alternative for pregnant women.

 

Is the amount of bisphenol A (BPA) getting into our foods safe?

Marina Fernandez has answered Unlikely

An expert from Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental in Endocrinology

The estimated daily intake of BPA by humans ranges from < 1 to 5 μg/kg body weight (BW)/day (Environ. Sci. Technol., 50 (2016), pp. 5438-5453). There are multiple studies that show adverse endocrine disruptive or toxic effects of BPA in animal models in the range of < 1 μg/kg BW/day (Endocr Rev. 2012 Jun; 33(3): 378–455). BPA as well as other endocrine disruptors show non monotonic dose response curves, and effects on animals depend on the exposure window, concentration and exposure route. Many more studies are needed to explore what is the safe dose of BPA.

 

Is the amount of bisphenol A (BPA) getting into our foods safe?

Ludovico Abenavoli has answered Extremely Unlikely

An expert from University Magna Graecia in Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Nutrition

The endocrine disrupting compounds, included bisphenol A, can mimic natural hormones, interfere with the development and homeostasis and can cause adverse health effects and chronic diseases, included metabolic changes. Bisphenol A is detected discharged in the aquatic environment and in food as a consequence of the food production process, or due to the leach from the final product as a result of either the hydrolysis of the polymers at high temperature or under the acidic/basic conditions. The cited facts make bisphenol A a pseudo-persistent pollutant in the environment. It is also considered to be a very weak environmental estrogen which stimulates cellular responses at very low doses by binding to the estrogen receptors. In this context, my opinion is that more studies on the mechanisms of the bisphenol A estrogenic activity and the potential adverse health effects in humans, are needed in order to convince policy-makers, legal legislators and industrial companies of the bisphenol A risks for the public health.

 

Is the amount of bisphenol A (BPA) getting into our foods safe?

Denys deCatanzaro has answered Unlikely

An expert from McMaster University in Toxicology, Endocrinology, Behavioural Science

Estrogens are powerful steroid hormones that play critical roles in male-female differentiation, puberty, sexual behavior, ovulation, and the success or failure of pregnancy. Seemingly miniscule variations in levels of the most powerful natural estrogen, estradiol, can promote or perturb these reproductive functions. Excessive levels of estrogens can also promote tumor growth. People are currently exposed to numerous synthetic chemicals that can behave like estrogens (xenoestrogens). Many people experience reproductive difficulties or cancers in tissues such as breast, uterus, ovaries, testes, and prostate glands. Several notorious xenoestrogens, such as DDT, diethylstilbestrol, and PCBs are known to contribute to these maladies and fortunately have been banned.

Bisphenol A (BPA) can bind weakly to estrogen receptors, the specialized cells in the body that respond to natural estrogens. Early animal studies indicated that the dose of BPA necessary to induce adverse effects was thousands of times greater than that to which people are commonly exposed, leading to dismissal of concerns about its toxicity. However, several lines of more recent evidence suggest otherwise. Contrary to conventional assumptions of toxicology research, it has emerged that lower doses of BPA can have adverse effects that are not evident with higher doses (Endocrine Reviews 2012, 33:378-455). Many of the most potent actions of BPA occur through prenatal and early postnatal exposure. For example, male mice that were exposed to relatively low doses of BPA during perinatal development showed sexual behavior deficits in adulthood, whereas those given higher doses did not (Food and Chemical Toxicology 2013, 55:164-171). It has also been found that BPA can have strong actions on other receptors, including the more recently discovered membrane-bound estrogen receptors (Environmental Health Perspectives 2005, 113:431-439) and an estrogen-related receptor, ERRl (Environmental Health Perspectives 2008, 116:32-38). BPA binds to tissues such as the uterus at doses comparable to those of typical human consumption (Reproductive Toxicology 2014, 49:145-154). BPA’s presence in these tissues is greatly magnified by concurrent exposure to other xenoestrogens and toxins found in the environment and household products, including triclosan, parabens, and phthalates, probably because these chemicals collectively overwhelm the body’s natural enzymatic defenses (Environmental Health Perspectives 2017, 125(8); Chemosphere 2018, 193:321-328).

It would seem wise to err on the side of caution when reproductive difficulties and cancers are so common, but there is powerful lobbying by those who profit from BPA.  Avoiding canned foods and drinks and handling of cashiers’ receipts are among the easiest ways to reduce exposure. Also, be wary of canned products that say “BPA free”; many of them have substituted BPS or BPF, which have similar endocrine-disrupting properties (Environmental Health Perspectives 2015, 123:643-650).

 

Is the amount of bisphenol A (BPA) getting into our foods safe?

Golshan Afshari has answered Near Certain

An expert from Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences in Endocrinology

The main factors that interfere in BPA release of canned foods lining and plastic containers to their contents, are STORAGE condition, food HEAT UP duration and TEMPERATURE. Further temperature increase the release of BPA about 50 fold.

However, the ‘safe’ dose of BPA remains controversial, this chemical exert side effects even at TDI (tolerable daily intake) doses.

After careful evaluation, the ESFA down-regulated the TDI of BPA, <50 μg/kg·bw/day to 4 μg/kg·bw/day in 2015

 

Is the amount of bisphenol A (BPA) getting into our foods safe?

Heather Patisaul has answered Unlikely

An expert from North Carolina State University in Endocrinology, Neuroscience, Behavioural Science

That FDA opinion was simply that, an opinion. It was a statement released by an FDA administrator in response to a draft report conducted by FDA scientists that was released the same day, but had not yet been peer reviewed or finalized. So the FDA opinion was premature and not based on a rigorous scientific analysis. The draft FDA study is part of a larger project called CLARITY-BPA which also includes NIH-funded scientists. There was agreement to wait and not draw any conclusions about the possible health effects of BPA until all of the data could be analyzed in its totality. That didn’t happen. Instead FDA jumped the gun and stuck to its prior conclusion: that BPA levels getting in our food is safe. The effects on mammary gland development, body weight, and ovarian function found in their own study at one of the lowest BPA doses ever tested is evidence against the conclusion that current exposure levels are “safe.” Those effects have also been reported in other studies, some of which were published by the other CLARITY-BPA participants. That BPA effects are seen at low doses, but not always at high doses, is not atypical for hormone disruptors because endocrine systems have feedback loops and other features that can compensate, in some cases, for higher exposures. So there should be legitimate concern about low dose exposures. Additionally, we get exposed to BPA and other endocrine disruptors from other sources, so the exposure from food is only the tip of the iceberg. If you look at total exposure from all sources, there is certainly reason to be concerned.

 

Is the amount of bisphenol A (BPA) getting into our foods safe?

Kamil Reza Khondakar has answered Unlikely

An expert from Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology in Biomedical Engineering

The percolating of BPA in our food has been a concern for a long time. I believe any kind of plastic products is not good for any food items. The amount of consumption of BPA is rather a debatable issue as it has detrimental effect on every person (Endocrine reviews, 2009, 30, 75-95). It effect different age groups of people. Moreover, these are not environment friendly (Environmental toxicology and pharmacology, 2015, 40, 241-258).

In short, we can’t take risk on our health. It would be much better to ban BPA completely in any food products and avoid any confusion.

 

Is the amount of bisphenol A (BPA) getting into our foods safe?

Chun-Yu Chuang has answered Unlikely

An expert from National Tsing Hua University in Toxicology, Epidemiology, Bioinformatics, Environmental Science

BPA has U-shaped dose response. BPA at low concentrations can induce the strongest response.

 

Is the amount of bisphenol A (BPA) getting into our foods safe?

Carol Burns has answered Near Certain

An expert from Burns Epidemiology Consulting in Epidemiology

Urine collection, such as through the US NHANES has confirmed low levels of BPA in general populations. However, because of the short half-life in the body, the sources of variability should not be ignored in the epidemiology studies. The use of single samples and cross-sectional designs are poor methodologies to compare with the lack of effects seen in animals at very low doses.  

 

Is the amount of bisphenol A (BPA) getting into our foods safe?

Rex FitzGerald has answered Likely

An expert from Swiss Centre for Applied Human Toxicology in Toxicology

Most of the regulatory agencies say that current levels of exposure are safe.

In the words of L. Earl Gray, Jr.:

“This is my current opinion based on the best available science and I will change my mind with new data.”

http://www.yaleseas.com/watersymposium/transcripts/gray.doc

 

Is the amount of bisphenol A (BPA) getting into our foods safe?

Ricardo J Bosch has answered Unlikely

An expert from University of Alcalá in Nephrology, Cardiology, Endocrinology

In recent years, exposure to certain chemical substances has become a part of everyday life. Such is the case with bisphenol A (BPA), or 2,2,-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) propane, a molecule used to synthesize polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. It is used extensively in the production water and soft drinks bottles, and as the inner coating of cans and other food and drink containers.

Numerous studies have demonstrated that more than 90% of the population in the USA, Japan and Spain have detectable urinary levels of this compound and that the level of exposure of the population is above the recommended values (50 mg per kg per day).

It is well stablished that BPA belongs to the increasing list of endocrine disruptor agents (xenoestrogen). As such, BPA has been implicated with several endocrine and metabolic abnormalities including hepatic and thyroid disorders, obesity, insulin resistance, and increased susceptibility to diabetes.

In this way, a recent study described a new type of podocytopathy induced by BPA characterized by proteinuria and podocytopenia (J Cell Physiology 229:2057, 2014). Subsequent studies (FASEB J 28:4719, 2014) demonstrated that mice treated with BPA developed arterial hypertension and endothelial dysfunction, in a dose-dependent manner. This effect could be observed at doses lower that half of those considered safe.

These findings are in agreement with recent epidemiological data from hospitals of New York, Shanghai and Seoul (Trasande et al Kidney Int 83:741, 2013; Li et al Kidney Int. 81:1131, 2012 and Bae et al Hypertension 65:313, 2015).

Although it is difficult to definitively characterize the potentially harmful concentration of BPA, it is worth mentioning the findings of 2 independent studies in which the consumption of a daily dose of canned beverage by normal subjects produced, after 3to 5 days, an increase in urinary BPA concentration of over 1000% (over 20 ng/mL). Li et al (cited above) described an association between BPA exposure and albuminuria in adults, with some individuals having a mean urinary BPF concentration of 1 ng/mL. Furthermore, Bae et al (previously mentioned) reported that exposure to BPA from drinking canned beverages increases blood pressure.

Thus, the BPA exposure demonstrated in repeated epidemiological studies, conducted mainly in developed countries, cannot be considered (entirely) safe.

 

Is the amount of bisphenol A (BPA) getting into our foods safe?

Sibel Irmak has answered Likely

An expert from University of Nebraska in Chemistry

The safe level of BPA was reduced from 50 mg/kg body weight per day to 4 mg/kg mg/Kg body weight per day based on the new data and refined methodologies (EFSA, 2015). If current dietary exposure to BPA is higher than 4 mg/kg mg/Kg body weight per day it may be expected to pose a health risk. 

References:

European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), 2015. Scientific opinion on the risks to public health related to the presence of bisphenol A in food stuffs: part 11 e toxicological assessment and risk characterization. EFSA panel on food contact materials, enzymes, flavorings and processing aids. European Food Safety Authority, Parma, Italy. Eur. Food Saf. Auth. J 13 (1), 3978.

Bisphenol A and food safety: Lessons from developed to developing countries. Food and Chemical Toxicology 92 (2016) 58-63.

 

Is the amount of bisphenol A (BPA) getting into our foods safe?

Valentina Domingues has answered Likely

An expert from Oporto Polytechnic Institute in Analytical Chemistry, Environmental Science, Food Science

According to our recent results the obtained levels of exposure for a group of portuguese (sampling 2014/2015) children were well below EFSA TDI. So, we can conclude that the amount of BPA in food is safe. However, more studies should be performed for a proper risk assessment evaluation.

 

Is the amount of bisphenol A (BPA) getting into our foods safe?

Isabel Hernandez Ochoa has answered Unlikely

An expert from Cinvestav in Toxicology

Effects of bisphenol A have been controversial. However, last 10 years many scientists over the world have provided substantial amount of evidence about how bisphenol A relates with adverse effects at or below the suggested safety levels (50 or 4 µg/kg/day). Below are two recent references that may help understanding the effects of bisphenol A. 

ANSES’s Working Group on « Endocrine disruptors », ANSES’s Expert Committee on « Chemicals covered by the REACh and CLP Regulations », Pouzaud F, Thierry-Mieg M, Burga K, Vérines-Jouin L, Fiore K, Beausoleil C, Michel C, Rousselle C, Pasquier E. Mol Cell Endocrinol. Concerns related to ED-mediated effects of Bisphenol A and their regulatory consideration.2018 Feb 8. pii: S0303-7207(18)30055-8.

Gore AC, Chappell VA, Fenton SE, Flaws JA, Nadal A, Prins GS, Toppari J, Zoeller RT. EDC-2: The Endocrine Society’s Second Scientific Statement on Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals. Endocr Rev. 2015 Dec;36(6):E1-E150.

 

Is the amount of bisphenol A (BPA) getting into our foods safe?

Yougja H Park has answered Unlikely

An expert from Korea University in Metabolomics, Endocrinology

While investigating the potential correlation of BPA exposure with alteration both in urine and serum metabolites among male and female children and we found that steroidogenesis pathway and amino acid metabolism were the main targets of perturbation by BPA in preadolescent children especially among females. Such exposure and perturbations in females at later stages, can be associated with a variety of pathogenic conditions including obesity, endometrial hyperplasia, recurrent miscarriages, and polycystic ovarian syndrome.

 

Is the amount of bisphenol A (BPA) getting into our foods safe?

Lucia Grumetto has answered Likely

An expert from University of Naples Federico II in Food Science

Most of BPA and bisphenol analogues concentrations found in each food category, the main route through which these compounds can enter into human body, are, generally, too low to produce a daily intake  exceeding the levels considered safe by authorities,  thus not leading to any risk of acute toxicity. Anyhow, it is necessary to keep in mind that BPA and its analogues are steadily being used for various industrial applications and it is necessary to consider the sum of the intakes arising from a complete dietary regimen based on the combination of various foodstuffs as well the occurrence of

co-exposure to non-dietary sources, such as the transdermal route. Possible adverse effects on the human health may arise both from the chronic toxicity due to bioaccumulation and from a simultaneous exposition (and consequent intake) to other endocrine disruptors causing a “cocktail effect”. 

 

Is the amount of bisphenol A (BPA) getting into our foods safe?

Johanna  Bodin has answered Likely

An expert from Norwegian Institute of Public Health in Toxicology, Immunology

The amount detected in food is far below the safety limit

 

Is the amount of bisphenol A (BPA) getting into our foods safe?

Konstantinos Makris has answered Unlikely

An expert from Cyprus University of Technology in Health

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a high volume production chemical that belongs to the very long list of chemicals that are associated with health effects on the endocrinological systems of the human body; some with stronger evidence and others with less evidence. My approach goes beyond taking action on a single chemical at a time; rather i am using the concept of exposome that attempts to characterize all environmental exposures throughout one’s lifetime and the complex cocktail of chemicals that humans are exposed to every day. As the case is with BPA, there are numerous similar chemicals with equal or not endocrine potency for humans, so, focusing efforts on single chemical risks becomes futile.

I suggest that a comprehensive lifestyle change that attempts to exclude conventional plastic options from food packaging options and substitute those with glass or ceramic or the newer versions of bio-plastics would substantially reduce ones’ exposures to plasticizers like BPA and its analogs/substitutes. Avoid also consuming canned food but rather try to purchase fresh food instead of in cans that are known to contain BPA and other plasticizer-based resins.

Our BPA works, including our Exposome work:

Andrianou XA, and KC Makris, 2918.The framework of urban exposome: Application of the exposome concept in urban health studies. Sci. Total Environ., Volume 636, pages 963–967.

Kalyvas, H., Andra, S.S., Charisiadis , P., Karaolis, C., Makris, K.C., (2014). Influence of household cleaning practices on the magnitude and variability of urinary monochlorinated bisphenol A. Science of the Total Environment 490, 254–261.

Andra, S.S., Charisiadis, Pantelis., Arora, M., Van Vliet-Ostaptchouk, J.V.,.Makris, K.C., (2015). Biomonitoring of human exposures to chlorinated derivatives and structural analogs of bisphenol A. Environment International 85, 352–379.

Andrianou, X. D., Gaengler, S., Piciu, A., Charisiadis, P.,Zira, C., Aristidou, K., Piciu, D., Hauser, R., Makris, K.C.. (2016). Human exposures to bisphenol A, bisphenol F and chlorinated bisphenol A derivatives and thyroid function. PLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0155237.