Dietary exposure to bisphenol A is a health concern, EFSA says
Exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) through diet is a health concern for individuals of all ages, according to a new re-evaluation by EFSA's scientific experts.
BPA is a chemical used, together with other substances, to create specific plastics and resins. It can be found in water dispensers, food storage containers, and reusable beverage bottles. BPA is also present in epoxy resins used in protective coatings and linings for food and beverage cans and vats.
Small amounts of chemicals like BPA can migrate from food containers to the food and beverages they contain, prompting EFSA scientists to regularly review their safety based on new data.
Dr. Claude Lambré, Chair of EFSA's Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, and Processing Aids, shared that the safety of BPA has been thoroughly examined by their scientists since the first comprehensive risk assessment in 2006. The re-evaluation included scrutinizing a substantial number of scientific publications, including more than 800 new studies published since January 2013.
The studies revealed a rise in a particular white blood cell (T helper), which could lead to allergic lung inflammation and autoimmune disorders. Additionally, the Panel considered other potentially harmful health effects on reproductive, developmental, and metabolic systems identified in the risk assessment.
Dr. Henk Van Loveren, Chair of EFSA's working group for the BPA re-evaluation, explained that “To assess the large number of studies published since 2013 - the cut-off point for our previous assessment in 2015 - we applied a systematic and transparent approach. We developed upfront a protocol for selecting and appraising all the evidence with the input of stakeholders and Member State competent authorities”. “Our findings are the result of an intense evaluation process that has lasted several years and which we finalized using the input we gathered from a two-month public consultation launched in December 2021”, he added.
Compared to the 2015 assessment, EFSA's expert Panel considerably reduced the tolerable daily intake (TDI) for BPA. The new TDI is set at 0.2 nanograms per kilogram of body weight per day, a reduction of approximately 20 000 times from the previous temporary TDI set in 2015 (i.e. 4 micrograms per kilogram of body weight). Based on the new TDI and estimates of dietary exposure to BPA, experts found that consumers with average and high exposure in all age groups exceeded the new TDI, indicating health concerns.
It is important to note that the exposure estimates used were based on the 2015 assessment, and EU legislators' restrictions on certain BPA uses since then may have decreased dietary intake (meaning the new scenario is conservative). EFSA highlights that multiple factors can affect an individual's overall health risk, including other stressors, genetics, and nutrition.
The European Commission and Member State representatives, which are responsible for setting limits on the amount of a chemical that may migrate from food packaging into food, will now use EFSA's scientific advice on BPA to discuss on appropriate regulatory measures to protect consumers.
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