BPA, Baby Bottles and prevention of cancer Dr Carl Albrecht Head of Research 11 August 2010

What is this all about? Clash of ideas

What are the opposing ideas? Pro-BPA BPA is a valuable chemical, used widely, and poses no health danger to mankind Anti-BPA BPA is a dangerous chemical that should be banned, especially where it is a contamination threat to babies

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a man- made chemical Small Symmetric White powder

BPA binds to oestrogen receptor

BPA + Order = Chaos (Cancer) Highly regulated process Unregulated, haphazard process BPA is an EDC Endocrine Disrupting Compound Happens at very low concentrations –ng/ml

DES was given to pregnant women rather than BPA (because it is more active) BPA – Bisphenol ADES - Diethylstibesterol DES was given to 7 million pregnant women for 40 years to prevent miscarriages before it was discovered that DES causes vaginal cancer in the daughters Note how similar BPA and DES are.

Effect of a low dose of BPA on breast tissue Control milk duct in mouse breast tissue Mice treated with 25 ng BPA/kg body weight per day 25 ng is 1000-times lower than the FDA safety limit of 25 ug.

92% Americans have BPA in their blood. BPA has been linked to: Increased breast cancer risk Increased prostate cancer risk Early puberty Diabetes Brain dysfunction Thyroid dysfunction Heart disease Infertility in males and females Obesity 25 % of all cancers

Conclusion Endocrine disrupting compounds such as DES and BPA (proven and possible cancer threat respectively) must be avoided especially during pregnancy and in 0-3 year old children

The danger of man-made endocrine disrupting compounds – “a spanner in the works”. Endocrine Disrupting Compounds LIVING SYSTEMS Chaos …cancer

POLYCARBONATE ENTERS THE PICTURE Heat resistant Impact resistant Shatterproof Clear Easily worked Easily moulded Easily thermoformed Discovered that BPA-carbonates when strung together form polycarbonate.

Anatomy of Polycarbonate BPA carbonate Polycarbonate Free BPA - plasticiser

Other items where polycarbonate or BPA is used

The Penny Drops….there is BPA in the baby bottle! The Baby Bottle seems so innocent!

World-wide rejection of BPA in Baby Bottles Canada Denmark France Various US States PC

Why are children (0-3 yrs) more susceptible to BPA? 1. Brains still developing 2. Lack enzymes to inactivate BPA 3. Eat ten-times more than adults per day per body weight than adults

Is the Baby Bottle the Tipping Point against man-made chemical carcinogens?

Summary CANSA has studied the pro- and anti-BPA scientific evidence over the past three years and is convinced that BPA, which is hormonally active, poses a threat to human health - specifically by increasing the risk of breast or prostate cancer In order to reduce this increased risk CANSA supports reasonable processes to significantly limit exposure to BPA - especially of pregnant women and our babies who are more vulnerable One such process is to replace polycarbonate baby bottles containing BPA with BPA-free bottles

No need to trash the world – trash BPA Baby Bottles

CANSA is a watchdog and the Smart Choice logo helps to educate the public. Placing the CANSA Smart Choice logo on BPA- Free baby bottles makes good sense

Thank You