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Food Safety

David Segarra

Scientific editor of Global Talent and Recerca en Acció (Talència)

An international outcry to stop Bisphenol A

JULY 26, 2010

Bisphenol A is a recognized endocrine disruptor, which, as such, has the ability to alter our hormonal systems. Even so, this substance is still used in all types of applications, including food packaging. As a result, our bodies are constantly exposed to very low but continuous doses of a product that may cause serious health problems, according to many epidemiologists and researchers.

Faced with this worrisome situation, dozens of scientists and associations have jointly signed a letter to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to demand that steps be taken to achieve a reduction of human exposure to this toxin. Among those who endorsed the measure are Miquel Porta, a researcher at Institut Municipal d’Investigació Mèdica (IMIM), and Nicolás Olea, toxicologist at the University of Granada. The letter also bears the signatures and backing of other researchers from around the world as well as organizations such as Spain’s Union Institute of Work, Environment and Health (ISTAS) of the CCOO trade union and Friends of the Earth.

What brought scientists, trade unions and environmentalists together to promote this petition? The fact is this is not the first time these different groups have joined forces behind a common cause. Already there was a similar circumstance when a broad movement was formed to pressure the European Commission's REACH initiative to regulate chemicals that are used in all applications.

Now, Bisphenol A has been able to reunite these collectives under the same banner. Bisphenol A is an organic compound used as an additive in a large amount of plastics for a variety of different applications. Bisphenol A is an organic compound used as an additive in a large amount
of plastics According to Olea, it is used “in all kinds of kitchen utensils, packaging, bottles, soda cans, fast-food containers and glasses,” among other products. In practice this means that we find it everywhere. Olea cited an everyday example: pizza boxes made with recycled cardboard carry a relatively high amount of Bisphenol. The heat of the pizza itself incorporates the contaminant into the fat of this food. The result is an unexpected “pizza alla disruptore” which we eat without suspecting its hidden cargo.

So what does Bisphenol A do? This substance belongs to a group of endocrine disruptors, a heterogeneous group of compounds that alter the functioning of our hormones in different ways. For example, they can imitate or mimic a hormone by taking its place. This can result in consequences to our metabolic, neurological or reproductive systems since hormones are involved in the regulation of metabolic control mechanisms, neurological organization, psychomotor development and reproduction.

In the case of Bisphenol A it is known, for instance, that very low doses of this compound in mice can cause abnormalities in embryonic development. In humans, many studies have reported the exposure to endocrine disruptors is the basis for the emergence of a multitude of “modern” diseases, from some types of cancer to Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease or diabetes. However, it is difficult to isolate the effect of a single substance in particular because people slowly but continuously accumulate a cocktail of substances.

The reason why the EFSA is being pressured now is because the agency is preparing to determine the risk level of this substance in its next evaluation. As Genon Jensen, director of the Health and Environment Alliance, wrote in his letter to the EFSA: “with the suspicion that Bisphenol plays a role in diseases such as breast cancer or diabetes, it is necessary to reduce exposure levels. This is especially important in the development of the fetus, since Bisphenol can cross through the placenta.”

Some countries, such as Canada, Denmark and France, have already taken steps to reduce human exposure to this toxin. Now it is expected that the European Commission follows suit, especially in regulating the materials that come into contact with food.

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