Brussels, 27/04/2016 (Agence Europe) - The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is to re-evaluate the effect of bisphenol A (BPA) on the immune system. BPA is a chemical compound which may have adverse effects on the liver, kidneys and mammary glands in humans and on the mammary glands in animals.
The trigger for this development announced by EFSA on Tuesday 26 April was a report published by the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment which critically examines two studies by Menard et al. (2014) describing pre- and perinatal effects of BPA on the immune system that reveal BPA to be an endocrine disruptor.
The Dutch report recommends supporting research on alternatives to BPA and advice to consumers on reducing their exposure to BPA from food and other sources.
Food accounts for 84% of human exposure to BPA (tinned foods representing 50% of food sources) but people are also exposed to BPA from the atmosphere by breathing in and by absorption through the skin from contact with consumer goods.
The two studies by Menard, referred to above (“Perinatal exposure to a low dose of bisphenol A impaired systemic cellular immune response and predisposes young rats to intestinal parasitic infection” and “Food intolerance at adulthood after perinatal exposure to endocrine disruptor Bisphenol A”) were unpublished when EFSA conducted a thorough review of exposure to the toxicity of BPA, EFSA says in a press release.
At the request of the Dutch Ministry of Health, EFSA has agreed to examine the results of the RIVM report and to re-examine the toxicity of BPA on the immune system in light of the new scientific evidence. Its expert Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids (CEF Panel) is hoping to issue a statement in the next few months but EFSA's final scientific opinion will not be delivered before 2018. EFSA is also setting up a working group of international experts.
In January 2015, EFGSA stated in a consolidated scientific opinion that, at current exposure levels, BPA poses no health risk to consumers of any age group, including unborn children, infants and adolescents since exposure to BPA through food or from a combination of various sources (food, dust, cosmetics and thermal paper was considerably lower than the tolerable daily intake (TDI) level (see EUROPE 11235).
EFSA says that, since then, it has developed a “scientific protocol” for a structured literature search and a transparent review of all the new scientific evidence not included in its previous assessment. Procurement is underway for the collection and extraction of data on BPA toxicology from scientific studies published since 2012. In early 2017, EFSA will conduct a public consultation on the protocol. “Stakeholders from public authorities, academia and civil society will be able to have their say on EFSA's planned approach before work begins. The final scientific opinion is scheduled for completion in 2018”, the Authority says. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)