Valley Oak
08-23-2015, 04:34 PM
Scientific evidence links our routine exposure to BPA to a range of diseases, including breast cancer.
As diet continues to be our main route of exposure to BPA, Breast Cancer UK is calling for it to be removed from all food and drinks packaging and replaced with safer alternatives.
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MS7a_iWcelg?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" id="fitvid890358"></iframe>
What is BPA?
BPA is a man-made chemical first synthesised in the 1890's (1). It was discovered to mimic the hormone oestrogen in the 1930’s (2). During the 1950’s the chemical industry discovered that BPA hardened plastics and started to use it widely in products (3).
How does BPA affect my body?
BPA is an Endocrine Disrupting Chemical (EDC). It is able to mimic oestrogen and can bind to the oestrogen receptors in a cell (4). Some studies have found that it can affect the development of mammary glands (e.g reviewed in 5). BPA has been linked to breast cancer (e.g. 6), as well as to prostate cancer (e.g. 7), heart disease (e.g. 8), obesity (e.g 9) and diabetes (e.g. 10).
Why ban it from food and drinks packaging?
Scientific studies have found that an important route of exposure to BPA is via our food and drink. BPA leaches from the packaging and into the products, especially when they are scratched or heated during cooking and in the dishwasher (E.g reviewed in 11).
BPA is still used in a lot of plastic food and drinks packaging - microwave ovenware, storage containers, water and milk bottles as well as plastic tableware and cutlery, which is especially popular for toddlers and young children. It is also used to make the epoxy resins that line tins of food, such as baked beans, soup and tomatoes and cans of fizzy and alcoholic drinks.
The European Food Safety Authority recently conducted an assessment on BPA toxicity and exposures (12). Despite acknowedging that “uncertainties” remain around the potential health effects of BPA on the mammary gland, reproductive, metabolic, neurobehavioural and immune systems, EFSA concluded that BPA poses "no risk" to human health - a conclusion we have significant concerns about (https://www.breastcanceruk.org.uk/news-and-media/breast-cancer-uks-response-to-efsas-re-evaluation-of-bisphenol-a). Many scientists remain unconvinced about the safety of BPA. They warn that even a low dose a day can have adverse affects (e.g 13).
Breast Cancer UK submitted evidence to both of EFSA's consultations expressing concern that studies relating to low dose exposures had been dismissed (see opposite). We will continue to call for a ban on the use of BPA in food and drinks packaging on the basis that studies show that low dose exposures to BPA have been shown to have an adverse effect on the mammary gland.
Read more about BPA
(https://www.breastcanceruk.org.uk/science/bcukfs-bpa)
- See more at: https://www.breastcanceruk.org.uk/our-campaigns/no-more-bpa/#sthash.oo3QmcIA.dpuf
As diet continues to be our main route of exposure to BPA, Breast Cancer UK is calling for it to be removed from all food and drinks packaging and replaced with safer alternatives.
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MS7a_iWcelg?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" id="fitvid890358"></iframe>
What is BPA?
BPA is a man-made chemical first synthesised in the 1890's (1). It was discovered to mimic the hormone oestrogen in the 1930’s (2). During the 1950’s the chemical industry discovered that BPA hardened plastics and started to use it widely in products (3).
How does BPA affect my body?
BPA is an Endocrine Disrupting Chemical (EDC). It is able to mimic oestrogen and can bind to the oestrogen receptors in a cell (4). Some studies have found that it can affect the development of mammary glands (e.g reviewed in 5). BPA has been linked to breast cancer (e.g. 6), as well as to prostate cancer (e.g. 7), heart disease (e.g. 8), obesity (e.g 9) and diabetes (e.g. 10).
Why ban it from food and drinks packaging?
Scientific studies have found that an important route of exposure to BPA is via our food and drink. BPA leaches from the packaging and into the products, especially when they are scratched or heated during cooking and in the dishwasher (E.g reviewed in 11).
BPA is still used in a lot of plastic food and drinks packaging - microwave ovenware, storage containers, water and milk bottles as well as plastic tableware and cutlery, which is especially popular for toddlers and young children. It is also used to make the epoxy resins that line tins of food, such as baked beans, soup and tomatoes and cans of fizzy and alcoholic drinks.
The European Food Safety Authority recently conducted an assessment on BPA toxicity and exposures (12). Despite acknowedging that “uncertainties” remain around the potential health effects of BPA on the mammary gland, reproductive, metabolic, neurobehavioural and immune systems, EFSA concluded that BPA poses "no risk" to human health - a conclusion we have significant concerns about (https://www.breastcanceruk.org.uk/news-and-media/breast-cancer-uks-response-to-efsas-re-evaluation-of-bisphenol-a). Many scientists remain unconvinced about the safety of BPA. They warn that even a low dose a day can have adverse affects (e.g 13).
Breast Cancer UK submitted evidence to both of EFSA's consultations expressing concern that studies relating to low dose exposures had been dismissed (see opposite). We will continue to call for a ban on the use of BPA in food and drinks packaging on the basis that studies show that low dose exposures to BPA have been shown to have an adverse effect on the mammary gland.
Read more about BPA
(https://www.breastcanceruk.org.uk/science/bcukfs-bpa)
- See more at: https://www.breastcanceruk.org.uk/our-campaigns/no-more-bpa/#sthash.oo3QmcIA.dpuf