Plastic Additive Bisphenol A (BPA) Linked to Diabetes and Cardiovascular Events in NHANES Analysis

Plastic Additive Bisphenol A (BPA) Linked to Diabetes and Cardiovascular Events in NHANES Analysis

Bisphenol A (BPA) for a long time has been an additive in plastics and other materials used in food packaging and other consumer products and is considered one of the world’s most widely used industrial chemicals. Because of its wide spread use, its health impact has always been a center of debate, but most studies found inconclusive evidence of harm. But recently a study based on the 2003-04 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey clearly demonstrated that BPA significantly raises the chance of having diabetes or a cardiovascular event.

The study found that one standard deviation rise in BPA concentrations  was associated with a 63% increase risk of having been diagnosed with coronary heart disease, a 40% greater likelihood of having a heart attack and a 39% increased risk of diabetes. Biologically the same raise in BPA concentrations in the urine corresponded to a 48% “clinically above normal” elevations in alkaline phosphatase and γ-glutamyltransferace. They were also associated with higher levels of fasting glucose and insulin levels.

Of the 1400 participants tested BPA was detected in the urine of 93% of the participants with women having higher levels than men. This means that its widespread use is finding its way into our bodies, usually through small incremental leaching into the foods or liquids held in plastic containers where BPA was added, and is playing a significant role in the health of our society.

BPA is most commonly found in polycarbonate plastics used to make baby bottles, sports bottles, compact discs and is also used in epoxy resins that line the inside of food cans.  Because of this data recently Babies R’ Us did a voluntary recall of Avent bottles due to their BPA content, despite the FDA and the plastic industries notion that there is a “adequate margin of safety [that] exists for BPA at current levels of exposure from food contact use, for infants and adults.”

I wholly disagree! And the Canadian regulatory agencies concur labeling BPA as a “toxic chemical” and requiring “aggressive action to limit human and environmental exposures.” Why is it that our government seems so lackluster, requiring solid proof of harm before taking action?  Shouldn’t it be the other way around, requiring solid proof that BPA is completely safe before being used in our food containing products? We see this same attitude over and over again in our medical system, where controversy exists the FDA would rather side with the chemical/pharmaceutical industries over the consumers despite adequate alternatives (making BPA free plastics is easy) that may be more expensive but in the long run much more healthy for us.

So how do we limit our BPA exposure – for starters if using plastic containers do not heat them up in the microwave, this dramatically increases the BPA leaching. Start using glass containers to store foods and buy BPA free water jug and baby bottles (they usually come with a label saying BPA Free). Just these simple measures will drastically reduce your BPA exposure, thus reducing your chances of type II diabetes or some cardiovascular event.

Reference:

Sept 16, 2008. Journal of American Medical Association