New Data Confirms Bisphenol A
Link To Disease in Adults
Researchers from the Peninsula Medical School and the University
of Exeter, UK, have found more evidence for a link between Bisphenol
A exposure (BPA,
a chemical commonly used in plastic food containers) and cardiovascular
disease. The team analysed new US population data and their results
are published by the online journal, PLoS ONE.
The new study uses data from NHANES 2006-2006 US population study.
While the new study found that urinary BPA concentrations were
one third lower than in 2003-2004, higher BPA concentrations in
urine samples were still associated with heart disease in 2005-2006.
Associations with some liver enzymes were also present. Their
original paper in 2008 was the first to find evidence of associations
between BPA and heart disease, and this new data confirms their
earlier findings.
In 2008 the team believed that higher urinary BPA concentrations
might be associated with adverse health effects in adults, especially
in relation to liver function, insulin, diabetes and obesity.
By using data from the US government's National Health and Nutrition
Examination Survey (NHANES) 2004-2004, which for the first time
measured urinary BPA concentrations, the research team found that
a quarter of the population with the highest levels of BPA were
more than twice as likely to report having heart disease or diabetes,
compared to the quarter with the lowest BPA levels. They also
found that higher BPA levels were associated with clinically abnormal
liver enzyme concentrations.
Professor David Melzer, Professor of Epidemiology and Public
Health at the Peninsula Medical School (Exeter, UK), who led the
team, commented: "This is only the second analysis of BPA
in a large human population sample. It has allowed us to largely
confirm our original analysis and exclude the possibility that
our original findings were a statistical 'blip'"
Professor Tamara Galloway, Professor of Ecotoxicology at the
University of Exeter and senior author of the paper added: "We
now need to investigate what causes these health risk associations
in more detail and to clarify whether they are caused by BPA itself
or by some other factor linked to BPA exposure. The risks associated
with exposure to BPA may be small, but they are relevant to very
large numbers of people. This information is important since it
provides a great opportunity for intervention to reduce the risks."
BPA is a controversial chemical commonly used in food and drink
containers. It has previously caused concerns over health risks
to babies, as it is present in some baby's bottles. Several nations
have moved to ban BPA from the manufacture of baby's bottles and
other feeding equipment.
BPA is used in polycarbonate plastic products such as refillable
drinks containers, some plastic eating utensils and many other
products in everyday use. It is one of the world's highest production
volume chemicals, with over 2.2 million tonnes (6.4 billion pounds)
produced annually, and it is detectable in the bodies of more
than 90% of the population.
January 13, 2010
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