Human health concerns from bisphenol A: Review of the latest science

Bisphenol A (BPA) has attracted a considerable amount of publicity over the past several years. For example, it was mentioned in Time Magazine's annual "Year in Medicine" list for 2008. BPA is a chemical produced in large quantities for use primarily in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. Polycarbonate plastics have many applications including use in some food and drink packaging, e.g., water and infant bottles. Epoxy resins are used as lacquers to coat metal products such as food cans and bottle tops. BPA can be detected in the urine of >90% of Americans and its presence in food and beverages is assumed to account for the majority of daily exposure in most people. BPA has proven to be a very controversial chemical because of the wide range of opinions held within the scientific community on the potential risk it poses for human health. In September 2008, the National Toxicology Program (NTP) released a report that identified evidence from experimental animal studies that raised "some concern" that current levels of exposure to human fetuses, infants, and children may result in developmental changes in the prostate gland and brain and diminish sexually dimorphic behaviors. The presenter discusses the findings that led to the NTP conclusion of “some concern” as well as new developments related to the regulation of BPA and identification of additional sources of exposure and other health effects of potential concern.