Brussels, 17/01/2014 (Agence Europe) - Exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) is likely to adversely affect human health, affecting kidney and liver, as well as causing effects on the mammary gland. The tolerated exposure thresholds should be divided by ten, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) stated on Friday 17 January. Nonetheless, it concludes that the health risk resulting from BPA exposure is low for consumers as current exposure to this chemical component is too low to be harmful.
BPA is a chemical compound used in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastics (PC), epoxy resins and other polymeric materials, as well as in certain paper-based products. In March 2012, the EFSA specialised scientific panel decided to carry out a complete reassessment of the risks inherent to BPA exposure.
In its preliminary opinion published on Friday, EFSA concludes that exposure to BPA can “adversely affect the kidney and liver as well as causing effects on the mammary gland”. EFSA experts recommend that the tolerable daily intake (TDI) for BPA be lowered from its current level of 50 ug/kg bw/day (or 0.05 mg/kg/bw/day) to 5 ug/kg bw/day (0.005 mg/kg/bw/day) and be set on a temporary basis. EFSA will give its definitive opinion on BPA after it analyses the results of its public online consultation that runs until 13 March 2014. Experts point out that much of the science underpinning these conclusions is constantly evolving, and that consequently there are a number of uncertainties.
EFSA also assessed the possible effect of BPA on the reproductive, nervous, immune, metabolic and cardiovascular systems, as well as on the development of cancers. “While an association between BPA and these other effects is not considered likely at present, EFSA concludes they may be of potential concern for human health and they add to the overall uncertainty about the risks of the substance”, EFSA states. It goes on to assert that the health risk for all groups of the population is low - including for foetuses, infants, young children and adults. In fact, consumer exposure to BPA is lower than this new provisional TDI.
BTA, which is also present in electronic receipts, has been prohibited in babies' bottles since January 2011 in the EU. The European Commission must wait for the final opinion before making a proposal to amend the 2011 regulation on plastic materials and articles that come into contact with foodstuffs. (LC/transl.jl)