APES Ch.15 Environmental Hazards Case Study BPA

Bisphenol A (BPA) An estrogen mimic Serves as a hardening agent in certain plastics (especially shatter proof polycarbonates) Used in a Variety of products including baby bottles, sipping cups, pacifies, reusable water bottles, sports drink, microwave dishes, and food storage containers.

2007 study by Centers for Disease control (CDC) 93% of Americans older than 6 had trace levels of BPA in their urine. Below the accepted levels set by the EPA. EPA set the regulations on BPA in 1980, way before we know much about BPA. Children and Adolescents had higher BPA levels than adults.

CDC and Harvard University Research 1 week of drinking from polycarbonate bottles showed to increase BPA levels by 66%. Certain containers can release BPA into liquids without having to be heated up.

Three studies in 2010 BPA commonly found on credit cards and coated receipts. Fingers absorb BPA when wet. Gloves do not protect against it.

By 2012 More than 90 published studies find adverse effects on test animals when using BPA Effects included brain damage, early puberty, decreased fertility, certain cancers, heart disease, obesity, impaired learning, diabetes, and liver damage.

However… 12 studies funded by the chemical industry found no evidence or only weak evidence of adverse effects from low level BPA exposure. German Society of Toxicology concluded that BPA “represents no noteworthy risk to the health of the human population” and that not enough studies adverse effects had been reproduced to confirm results.

Yet… In 2011 a Harvard study showed exposure to BPA in the womb caused behavior and emotional problems in young girls, including hyperactivity, aggressive behavior, anxiety, and depression. Later testing on monkeys in 2012 revealed serious reproductive abnormalities and showed increased risk of breast cancer in women.

production Many companies replaced BPA with bisphenol s (BPS). BPS has since then been found to have many of the same effects as BPA did.

The result The FDA in 2008 concluded that BPA was not a health risk. Later in 2012, the Fda banned bpa in bottles and sipping cups without retracting their statement about bpa being safe.

Think about it Why would consumers buy BPA products even if they know about these studies? Should plastics that contain BPA or BPS be banned from use in all children’s products? Explain. Should such plastics be banned from use in the liners of canned food containers? Explain. What are the alternatives?