JIST

Abstract

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a monomer used to manufacture polycarbonate plastics, the resin of cans and other prod-ucts with global capacity in excess of 6.4 billion pounds per year. Because ester bonds in these BPA based poly-mers are subjected to hydrolysis, leaching of BPA can lead to widespread human exposure. A recent report pre-pared by Harvard Center for Risk and funded by the American Plastic Council concluded that evidence for low dose effect of BPA is weak on the basis of a review of only 19 studies; the report was issued after a delay of 2.5 years. A current comprehensive literature review reveals that the opposite is true. As of December 2004, there were 115 published in vivo studies of low dose ef-fect of BPA, and 94 of these report significant effects. In 31 publications of vertebrate and invertebrate animals, significant effect occurred below the predicted “safe” or Reference 50microgram/kg/day BPA. An oestrogenic mode of action of BPA is confirmed by an in vitro study which describes disruption of cell function at .23ppt. Nonetheless, chemical manufacturers continue to dis-count these published findings, because no industry-funded reports have reported significant effects of low doses of BPA, although more than 90% of Government-funded reports have noted significant effects.