Bisphenol A (BPA) is prevalent in the epoxy resins that line food containers and beverage containers. It is also present in polycarbonate plastics. Although the FDA maintains that exposure to BPA through food and beverage containers is not adverse to health, a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association raises serious concerns about the safety of BPA.

Previous studies have shown the presence of BPA in estrogen, but the new study suggests a link to additional serious health problems including liver damage, disrupted pancreatic β-cell function thyroid hormone disruption and obesity-promoting effects. And the study found this link with even low-level exposure.

Further studies need to be done to establish the causal effect between BPA and health effects, but the study showed clearly that in people with higher urinary concentrations of BPA there was an increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and liver-enzyme abnormalities. Given that BPA is almost completedly excreted from the body within 24 hours of exposure and the health problems linked to it take years to develop, the implications of this study are still not clear. But researchers conclude that the study supports the findings from research on animals that low-dose exposure to BPA can be harmful.

The researchers write, “Widespread and continuous exposure to BPA, primarily through food but also through drinking water, dental sealants, dermal exposure, and inhalation of household dusts, is evident from the presence of detectable levels of BPA in more than 90% of the US population.”

Until more information is obtained, we recommend minimizing your exposure to BPA. Using nonplastic reusable water bottles and BPA-free lunch products can help.

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