Plastic in our Food: A Look into BPA

Maureen Donah2013 Dietetic InternFebruary 13th 2013

What is BPA? Timeline Products Concerns Prevalence Research Government Involvement Labeling Recycling Plastics What to do?

Objectives

1930s- BPA was discovered to be artificial estrogen At that time it was used two ways:

1. Estrogen replacement for women2. To enhance the growth of cattle and

poultry

Erler C., Novak J., Bisphenol A Exposure: Human Risk and Health Policy. Journal of Pediatric Nursing. 2010;25:400-407

Bisphenol A

BPA Timeline

1891Invented

1930sDiscovered

that BPA was a synthetic

estrogen

1960sUsed in plastics

and metals

1998 Research

begins

2006NTP deems

it “safe”

2008NTP

releases “risks”

2008Playtex and

Nalgene remove from

products

2008NRDC files

petition asking FDA to ban BPA

Kissinger, M. Key Dates for BPA. Journal Sentinel Online. 2012

Bisphenol A• 1960s- BPA began to be used as an industrial chemical

which has been present in plastic and metal based food and beverage containers since.

• It is primarily used for the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins.

Bisphenol A (BPA). National Toxicology Program. http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/docs/bpa-factsheet.pdf. Accessed Feb. 2, 2013.

Plastic bottles Food cans Soda cans Baby bottles Baby formula cans Plastic food containers

What products have BPA?

Printer ink Dental fillings Cosmetics/Make-up Name brand clothing Paper currency Store receipts Toys Eyeglasses Water

Endocrine disruptor Mimics estrogen Promotes early age of

puberty in females Effects mammary glands

and prostate gland Increased growth rate Effects on the brain Behavioral issues in infants

and childrenErler C., Novak J., Bisphenol A Exposure: Human Risk and Health Policy. Journal of Pediatric Nursing. 2010;25:400-407

Why is BPA a concern?

In humans, BPA can be tested either through the blood or urine

According to the NHANES III study 92.6% of the participants, 6 years of age and older, had BPA in their urine. Ranging from 0.4-149 mcg/L

Erler C., Novak J., Bisphenol A Exposure: Human Risk and Health Policy. Journal of Pediatric Nursing. 2010;25:400-407

Prevalence of BPA

Bayer, Dow Chemical Company, General Electric Plastics, and Sunono all deem BPA completely “safe”. These are companies that produce 7 billion pounds of BPA annually, which worldwide generates $1 million per day in revenue for these corporations.

The American Chemistry Council, an association that represents plastics manufacturers, argues that BPA poses no risk to human health.

Erler C., Novak J., Bisphenol A Exposure: Human Risk and Health Policy. Journal of Pediatric Nursing. 2010;25:400-407

Or is it even a concern?

BPAResearch

Carwile JL, Ye X, Zhou X, Calafat AM, Michels KB. Canned Soup Consumption and Urinary Bisphenol A. JAMA. 2011;306(20):2218-2220

Canned Soup Consumption and Urinary Bisphenol A: A Randomized Crossover Trial

Hypothesis: canned soup consumption would increase urinary BPA concentrations relative to fresh soup consumption.

75 volunteers completed the study (mean age 27) BPA was detected in 77% of samples after fresh soup

consumption and 100% of samples after canned soup consumption

No Silver Lining: An Investigation into Bisphenol A in Canned Foods. National Workgroup for safe Markets. May 2010.

“BPA was detected in 46 of 50, or 92% of the canned food samples. The highest level of BPA- 1,140 part per billion (ppb), to our knowledge the highest level ever found in the U.S.- was detected in DelMonte French Style Green Beans…”

To evaluate the contribution of food packaging exposure, urinary BPA was measured before, during, and after a “fresh foods” dietary intervention

Urine levels of BPA decreased significantly during fresh foods intervention

3.7 ng/mL pre-intervention vs. 1.2 ng/mL during intervention

Rudel RA, Gray JM, Engel CL, Rawsthorne TW, Dodson RE, Ackerman JM, Rizzo J, Nudelman JL, Brody JG. Food Packaging and Bisphenol A: Findings from a Dietary Intervention. Environmental Health Prospective. 2011;119(7):914-920.

Food Packaging and Bisphenol A: Findings from Dietary Intervention

To estimate the impact of gestational and childhood BPA exposures on behavior and executive functions at 3 years of age

Results showed that gestational BPA exposure might be associated with anxious, depressive, and hyperactive behaviors

This was more pronounced for girls, which suggests that they might be more vulnerable to gestational BPA exposure than boys

Braun JM, Kalkbrenner AE, Calafat AM, Yolton K, Ye X, Dietrich KN, Lanphear BP. Impact of Early-Life Bisphenol A Exposure on Behavior an Executive Function in Children. Pediatrics. 2011;128(5)873-882.

Impact of Early-Life Bisphenol A Exposure on Behavior an Executive Function in

Children

Current BPA Timeline

2010FDA

expresses “some

concern” 2010

NRDC sues the FDA for failing to act on petition

2011 EU outlaws

polycarbonate in baby bottles

2012 Campbell’s will phase out use in

cans

2012FDA denies petition by

NRDC

Kissinger, M. Key Dates for BPA. Journal Sentinel Online. 2012

Response to Petition on BPA On October 28, 2008, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) submitted a citizen petition regarding BPA.

The petition requested that the Commissioner of Food and Drugs: Issue a regulation prohibiting the use of BPA in human food and packaging, and Revoke all regulations permitting the use of any food additive that may result in BPA becoming a

component of food. On March 30, 2012, the FDA denied this request in accordance with 21 CFR 10.30(e)(3). In its response, the FDA

stated that: The information provided in the citizen petition was not sufficient to persuade FDA to initiate this

rulemaking. The most appropriate course of action at this time is to continue scientific study and review of all new

evidence regarding the safety of BPA. Although FDA was not persuaded by the data and information in the NRDC citizen petition to initiate

rulemaking to revoke the food additive approvals for BPA, FDA will continue in its broader and more comprehensive review of emerging data and information on BPA. Depending on the results, any of these studies or data could influence FDA’s assessment and future regulatory decisions about BPA

http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodIngredientsPackaging/ucm166145.htm#petition

Government Involvement

Labeling

The Society of the Plastics Industry, 1988

Recycling Plastics

Found in: Soft drink, water, and mouthwash bottles, peanut butter containers, salad dressing and vegetable oil containers, and microwave food trays.

Earth911.org, Institute of Agriculture and Trade Policy, WHO International Program on Chemical Safety, US EPA

Polyethylene Terephthalate

Found in: Milk jugs, juice bottles, bleach, detergent and household cleaner bottles, shampoo bottles, some trash and shopping bag, motor oil bottles, butter and yogurt tubs, cereal box liners.

Earth911.org, Institute of Agriculture and Trade Policy, WHO International Program on Chemical Safety, US EPA

High Density Polyethylene

Found in: Window cleaner and detergent bottles, shampoo bottles, cooking oil bottles, clear food packaging, wire jacketing, medical equipment, siding, windows, and piping.

Earth911.org, Institute of Agriculture and Trade Policy, WHO International Program on Chemical Safety, US EPA

Vinyl or Polyvinyl Chloride

Found in: Squeezable bottles, bread, frozen food, dry cleaning and shopping bags, clothing, furniture, and carpet

Earth911.org, Institute of Agriculture and Trade Policy, WHO International Program on Chemical Safety, US EPA

Low Density Polyethylene

Found in: Some yogurt containers, syrup bottles, ketchup bottles, caps, straws, medicine bottles

Earth911.org, Institute of Agriculture and Trade Policy, WHO International Program on Chemical Safety, US EPA

Polypropylene

Found in: Disposable plates and cups, meat trays, egg cartons, carry-out containers, aspirin bottles, compact disc cases

Earth911.org, Institute of Agriculture and Trade Policy, WHO International Program on Chemical Safety, US EPA

Polystyrene

Found in: Three and five-gallon water bottles, 'bullet-proof' materials, sunglasses, DVDs, iPod and computer cases, signs and displays, and certain food containers.

Earth911.org, Institute of Agriculture and Trade Policy, WHO International Program on Chemical Safety, US EPA

Other/Miscellaneous

Smart Plastics Guide: Healthier Food Uses of Plastics. Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy. October 2005.

“With your food use 4, 5, 1, and 2…All the rest aren’t good for you!”

Labeled Plastics

Choose BPA free products Avoid plastics labeled #3, 6, and 7 Use glass containers as often as possible Avoid using plastic containers in the microwave Do not wash polycarbonate plastics in the dishwasher Stick to fresh foods as much as possible Avoid metal canned goods

What to do?

References

Bisphenol A (BPA). National Toxicology Program. http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/docs/bpa-factsheet.pdf. Accessed Feb. 2, 2013.

Braun JM, Kalkbrenner AE, Calafat AM, Yolton K, Ye X, Dietrich KN, Lanphear BP. Impact of Early-Life Bisphenol A Exposure on Behavior an Executive Function in Children. Pediatrics. 2011;128(5)873-882.

Carwile JL, Ye X, Zhou X, Calafat AM, Michels KB. Canned Soup Consumption and Urinary Bisphenol A. JAMA. 2011;306(20):2218-2220.

Earth911.org, Institute of Agriculture and Trade Policy, WHO International Program on Chemical Safety, US EPA

Erler C., Novak J., Bisphenol A Exposure: Human Risk and Health Policy. Journal of Pediatric Nursing. 2010;25:400-407

Kissinger, M. Key Dates for BPA. Journal Sentinel Online. 2012No Silver Lining: An Investigation into Bisphenol A in Canned Foods. National Workgroup for safe Markets. May 2010.Rudel RA, Gray JM, Engel CL, Rawsthorne TW, Dodson RE, Ackerman JM, Rizzo J, Nudelman JL,

Brody JG. Food Packaging and Bisphenol A: Findings from a Dietary Intervention. Environmental Health Prospective. 2011;119(7):914-920.

Thank You!