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Plastics that May Be Harmful to Children and Reproductive Health

Bisphenol A Human Exposures

The widespread use of BPA in consumer products and its presence in environmental media have led to the detection of BPA in human urine, serum, breast milk (in higher concentrations than in blood serum), maternal and fetal plasma, amniotic fluid, and placental tissue at birth. According to a nationally representative study of BPA in the U.S. population, higher concentrations of BPA in children may be partially explained by children’s higher food consumption and air inhalation rates in relation to their bodyweight. Females also had significantly higher concentrations of BPA than males, and participants in the low household income category had significantly higher concentrations than participants in the high household income category.

The CDC found that 95% of urine samples from people in the U.S. have measurable BPA levels, consistent with studies from other countries. Of particular importance is the finding that children have higher concentrations of BPA in their urine than adolescents and adults. Research indicating that BPA is rapidly metabolized in humans and excreted in urine suggests that exposure to BPA is likely continuous and from multiple sources. BPA accumulation in fetuses suggests significant prenatal exposure.

Additional research found rapid absorption and distribution of BPA in maternal organs and fetuses through the placenta. Exposure levels of BPA in women and fetuses were similar to those found to be toxic to reproductive organs of male and female offspring in animal studies.

Children are exposed to low doses of BPA from a number of sources, primarily from ingesting foods and beverages that have been in contact with epoxy resin coatings or polycarbonate containers. An observational study of preschool children in North Carolina and Ohio concluded that dietary exposure accounted for 99% of the children’s exposure to BPA. A recent Japanese study found that the main source of human exposure to BPA is food from some cans with linings that contain BPA. The following is a review of some of the primary sources of BPA for children.

Sources of Exposure

Canned Food
BPA-based epoxy resins are used as linings in cans for food and beverages and residual BPA can migrate from these resins into the liquid in the can.

Baby Bottles
Most clear, hard plastic baby bottles, toddler drinking cups, and water bottles are made of plastics containing BPA.

Medical & Dental Materials
BPA is used in the manufacture of a variety of medical equipment (e.g., incubators, kidney dialyzers, blood oxygenators, drug infusion units, labware, and flexible medical tubing) and in the manufacture of materials found in some dental sealants, resin-based compositesand polycarbonate orthodontic brackets.

Hard Plastic Toys
Toys that babies put into their mouths may contain BPA, but peer-reviewed studies could not be found on the amount of BPA leaching from toys.

Other Consumer Products

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• > Phthalates
          Introduction
          Summary
          Health Effects
          Exposures

Related Links

• > National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals
• > Studies on Chemical In Plastics Questioned
• > EPA Integrated Risk Information System - Bisphenol A
• > A Survey of Bisphenol A in U.S. Canned Foods
• > Bottled Water Pure Drink or Pure Hype?
• > Phthalates: TEACH Chemical Summary U.S. EPA, Toxicity and Exposure Assessment for Children’s Health