BPA AND OBESITY Another factor in America’s Obesity Epidemic. Jessica Haydel HPA 432 Powerpoint Presentation July 2, 2015

WHAT IS BPA?  BPA or Bisphenol A is a chemical produced for use mainly in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins.  BPA is an Endocrine Disrupting Chemical (EDC), a chemical that may interfere with the body’s endocrine system producing adverse effects.  These plastics and epoxy’s affect us because they are used in some food and drink packaging such as water and infant bottles, compact discs, medical devices, coatings on metal of food cans, bottle tops, and water supply pipes.

APHA’S APPROACH TO EDC’S  The Below link is to the American Public Health Associations Approach to Exposure to EDC’s and contains a great introduction to Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals.  statements/policy-database/2014/07/09/09/03/a-precautionary- approach-to-reducing-american-exposure-to-endocrine-disrupting- chemicals statements/policy-database/2014/07/09/09/03/a-precautionary- approach-to-reducing-american-exposure-to-endocrine-disrupting- chemicals

EDC DISRUPTING NORMAL HORMONE RESPONSE

BPA

WHAT ABOUT OBESITY  According to the CDC more than one third (78.6 million) of adults and 17% (12.7 million) children and adolescents in the United States are obese.  Obesity leads to conditions such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers which are potentially all preventable causes of death.  According to the CDC, the estimated medical cost of obesity in the U.S. in 2008 was $147 Billion.  Nutrition and Physical Activity are some of the more common aspects we look at to reverse the obesity epidemic, but obesity is a multifactorial disease.  We need to consider the role endocrine disruptors such as BPA are playing in this epidemic.  A multifactorial disease needs a multifactorial prevention approach

BPA AND OBESITY  A paper from Heindel and Schug discusses how certain EDC’s that interfere with endocrine signaling can disrupt hormonally regulated metabolic processes. These chemicals may predispose people to gain weight despite efforts to limit calories and increase physical activity.  A study from Trasande, et al., revealed an association between BPA urinary concentration and obesity in children and adolescents  A study from Savastrano et al. showed detectable BPA plasma levels in the population studied and an association between BPA and Waist Circumference (WC) ( higher BPA plasma levels were associated with higher WC).

THE PROBLEM  BPA is still a common component of many products consumed by Americans.  Many Americans may not even realize BPA is considered an Endocrine Disruptor or that it can be a factor leading to obesity.  With the current obesity epidemic, there needs to be better awareness  We need more research to better establish the association between BPA and obesity  We need better regulation of BPA in products for human consumption

CURRENT ACTIONS  Senate Bill 821, The BPA in Food Packaging Right to Know Act was recently introduced into Congress.  This Bill would call for a revised safety assessment for food containers composed in whole or part of BPA. It would also determine if there is reasonable certainty that no harm will come from BPA exposure through food containers or other items.  The Bill also includes an amendment that would place a cautionary label on packaging of products that contain BPA.  Additionally, I propose the following amendment: Senate Amdt. 922 Description: Amendment sought to develop a fund for further research to better establish the link between BPA and Obesity Sponsor: Senator Ed Markey

WHAT CAN WE DO?  Contact your policy makers to encourage them to support passage of Senate Bill 821.  Share Fact sheets with others to increase awareness of the issue Progress

WHO CAN HELP (POLICY PARAMOURS)  California Representative Lois Capps   California Senator Diane Feinstein   Illinois Senator Dick Durbin   Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey 

WHO CAN HELP? (POLICY STAKEHOLDERS) Governmental National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) National Toxicology Program International World Health Organization (WHO) European Commission

WHO CAN HELP (POLICY STAKEHOLDERS) Non-Governmental Eden Foods The Endocrine Society Natural Resources Defense Council Environmental Working Group

FINAL THOUGHTS “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” -Barack Obama

REFERENCES  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Adult Obestiy Facts. Retrieved from:  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Childhood Obesity Facts. Retrieved from:  Heindel, J.J., Schug, T.T., (2013). The Perfect Storm for Obesity. Obesity. 21(6):  Trasande, L., Attina, T.M., Blustein, J. (2012) Association Between Urinary Bisphenol A Concentration and Obesity Prevalence in Children and Adolescent. Journal of the American Medical Association. Vol 308, No 11. P  Savastano, S., Tarantino, G., D’Esposito, V., Passaretti, F., Cabaro, S., Liotti, A., Liguoro, D., Perruolo, G., Ariemma, F., Finelli, C., Beguinot, F., Formisano, P., & Valentino, R. (2015). Bisphenol-A plasma levels are related to inflammatory markers, visceral obesity, and insulin-resistance: a cross sectional study on adult male population. J. Trans. Med. 13: 169.  Congress.Gov S.821-BPA in Food Packaging Right to Know Act, Sponsored by Sen. Feinstein, Dianne. Retrieved from: congress/senate- bill/821?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22Endocrine+Disrupting+Chemicals%22 %5D%7Dhttps:// congress/senate- bill/821?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22Endocrine+Disrupting+Chemicals%22 %5D%7D