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ARTICLES EN ANGLAIS
BPA exposure during pregnancy linked to mothers' future diabetes risk
● Eurekalert.org
Selon une nouvelle étude menée chez l'animal et publiée dans la revue
‘Endocrinology’, l'exposition au bisphénol A pendant la grossesse peut augmenter la
susceptibilité de la mère à la prise de poids et au diabète plus tard dans la vie. Ces
résultats mettent en évidence l’existence d’une nouvelle fenêtre de susceptibilité
pour l’exposition aux perturbateurs endocriniens (PE).
p3-4
Dutch TV programme alleges syringes leak BPA and BADGE
● chemicalwatch.com
Les seringues seraient un facteur de contamination au bisphénol A (BPA) et à l’éther
diglycidyle de bisphénol A (BADGE).
p5
National Food Institute maintains its assessment of bisphenol A
● Food.dtu.dk
Les chercheurs de l'Institut national de l'alimentation de l’Université technique du
Danemark ont estimé que le niveau de BPA présenté récemment comme sans danger
par l'EFSA (Autorité européenne de sécurité des aliments) ne protège pas les
consommateurs des effets de perturbation endocrinienne du composé chimique.
selon eux, l’EFSA n’a pas appliqué un facteur d’incertitude approprié.
p6-7
UT researcher finds synthetic estrogen in BPA-free plastics
● dailytexanonline
Un chercheur l’Université du Texas a trouvé que les produits fabriqués sans bisphénol
A (BPA) diffusent davantage d’œstrogènes synthétiques que les produits qui
contiennent du BPA.
p8-9
Child gender ratios linked to phthalates and BPA says US institute
● Chemicalwatch.com
Selon une étude récente menée par des chercheurs du « National Institute of Child
Health and Human Development » américain, le sexe des enfants peut être affecté
par l'exposition des parents au bisphénol A (BPA) et aux phtalates.
p10
SCENIHR Final Opinion on The safety of the use of bisphenol A in medical
devices
● ec.europa.eu
Le SCENIHR (Comité scientifique des risques sanitaires émergents et nouveaux) a
publié un avis sur la sécurité de l’utilisation du bisphénol A dans les dispositifs
médicaux. Tout en mettant en avant les bénéfices indéniables apportés par ces
matériels, le Comité reconnaît l’existence de risques d’effets néfastes, notamment
pour les nouveau-nés en unités de soins intensifs, pour les nourrissons devant subir
des procédures médicales prolongées et pour les patients en dialyse.
p11
BPA and Autism: Study by Rowan, Rutgers researchers shows link
● nj.com
Une nouvelle étude montre pour la première fois que le BPA n’est pas bien
métabolisé chez les enfants atteints d'autisme. Le Dr. Peter Stein, auteur principal
de l’étude, explique que le BPA interfère avec les acides aminés, lesquels sont
impliqués dans le fonctionnement des neurotransmetteurs.
p12
1
Laboratory Study Shows Future Generations of Fish Affected by Endocrine
Disruptor Exposure
● usgs.gov
Les poissons exposés en laboratoire au bisphénol A (BPA) ou au 17a-éthinylestradiol
(EE2) transmettent les effets néfastes sur la reproduction à leur progéniture, jusqu'à
trois générations, selon une étude de l'US Geological Survey et de l'Université du
Missouri.
p13-14
Review finds bisphenol F and S effects similar to bisphenol A
● Chemicalwatch.com
Un examen des données récentes relatives aux activités hormonales du bisphénol F
(BPF) et du bisphénol S (BPS) conclut que les composés ont une activité et des
propriétés hormonales similaires à celles du bisphénol À (BPA).
p15
Chemical in BPA-Free Products Linked to Irregular Heartbeats
● Nationalgeographic
L'exposition au BPS ou bisphénol S, utilisé en remplacement du bisphénol A, provoque
des irrégularités du battement cardiaque chez les rates de laboratoire, selon une
étude publiée dans la revue ‘Environmental Health Perspectives’. Selon les auteurs,
les résultats sont remarquablement semblables, voire identiques, à ceux obtenus
avec le BPA.
p16-17
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http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-04/tes-bed032715.php
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1-Apr-2015
BPA exposure during pregnancy linked to mothers'
future diabetes risk
Animal study finds BPA associated with reduced glucose tolerance, beta cell dysfunction
The Endocrine Society
Washington, DC--Exposure to the endocrine-disrupting chemical bisphenol A during pregnancy may
raise a mother's susceptibility to weight gain and diabetes later in life, according to a new animal study
published in the Endocrine Society's journal Endocrinology.
A chemical used to manufacture plastics and epoxy resins, bisphenol A (BPA) is found in a variety of
consumer products, including plastic bottles, food cans and cash register receipts. The U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention have estimated that more than 96 percent of Americans have BPA in
their bodies.
BPA is a known endocrine disruptor - a chemical that mimics, blocks or interferes with the body's
hormones. As of last year, nearly 100 epidemiological studies had been published that found an
association between BPA and human health effects, including reproductive and metabolic disorders,
according to the introductory guide to endocrine-disrupting chemicals published by the Endocrine
Society and IPEN.
"Our results suggest that pregnancy represents a new window of susceptibility for mothers exposed to
BPA," said one of the study's authors, Angel Nadal, PhD, of Miguel Hernández University in Elche,
Spain. "Low-dose BPA exposure during this period can raise the risks of developing diabetes later in
life."
To examine the long-term effects of BPA exposure during pregnancy, the researchers studied pregnant
mice. The mice were divided into three groups - one exposed to a 10 μg/kg daily dose of BPA during
days 9-16 of gestation, one exposed to a higher dose of 100 μg/kg daily during the same period, and a
control group that was not exposed to BPA. After the mice gave birth, the researchers conducted
regular glucose tolerance tests to measure their ability to metabolize sugar.
At four months postpartum, the mice that were exposed to BPA began to show signs of impaired
glucose tolerance. The mice had higher glucose levels than the control group for 30 minutes after
exposure to glucose. When the mice were tested again six months after delivery, the high glucose levels
in the group exposed to BPA persisted for two hours after exposure.
Seven months after delivery, the researchers examined the animals' pancreatic beta cells - the cells
responsible for manufacturing insulin - under a microscope to determine how BPA affected the cells.
The analysis found the mice that were exposed to BPA had a significant decrease in beta cell mass and
lower levels of insulin secretion than the control animals.
The mice exposed to BPA also tended to have higher body weights than the control animals.
Researchers found mice in the experimental groups tended to be about 3 percent heavier than controls.
BPA mimics the actions of the hormone estradiol - a natural hormone that can regulate beta cell
function and provoke insulin resistance. The researchers theorize BPA exposure during pregnancy may
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result in the overworking of pancreatic beta cells and lead to an increased susceptibility to the
development of diabetes and other metabolic disorders.
"A number of studies have found that BPA can harm glucose metabolism in offspring exposed in utero,
but this is among the first studies to focus on how the endocrine disruptor affects mothers," said one of
the study's authors, Paloma Alonso-Magdalena, PhD. "Our data suggest exposure can have long-term
effects for the mother, including a predisposition to being overweight, or developing metabolic
syndrome or diabetes."
###
Alonso-Magdalena and Nadal led the study. Other authors of the study include: Marta García-Arévalo
and Iván Quesada of the Universidad Miguel Hernández and CIBERDEM, the Spanish Biomedical
Research Centre in Diabetes and Associated Metabolic Disorders.
The study, "Bisphenol-A Treatment during Pregnancy in Mice: A New Window of Susceptibility for
the Development of Diabetes in Mothers Later in Life," was published online, ahead of print.
Founded in 1916, the Endocrine Society is the world's oldest, largest and most active organization
devoted to research on hormones and the clinical practice of endocrinology. Today, the Endocrine
Society's membership consists of over 18,000 scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students in
122 countries. Society members represent all basic, applied and clinical interests in endocrinology. The
Endocrine Society is based in Washington, DC. To learn more about the Society and the field of
endocrinology, visit our site at http://www.endocrine.org. Follow us on Twitter at
https://twitter.com/#!/EndoMedia.
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https://chemicalwatch.com/23299/dutch-tv-programme-alleges-syringes-leak-bpa-and-badge
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Dutch TV programme alleges syringes leak BPA and BADGE
31 March 2015 / Netherlands, Belgium
A Japanese manufacturer of syringes says a Dutch television programme that highlighted problems of
bisphenol A (BPA) contamination through its needles "incorrectly creates a sense of anxiety with
patients".
The current affairs programme File EénVandaag says that the epoxy adhesive, used to make K-Pack II
syringes, does not harden properly. As a result the resin, which contains BPA and bisphenol A
diglycidyl ether (BADGE), can potentially enter the needle and patients' bloodstreams, the programme
alleges. It also says there are problems with another syringe called Neolus.
The NGO Health Care Without Harm called the report worrying, adding that "exposure through
Terumo syringes is not an isolated case. Many other medical devices in common use are thought to be
leaching BPA.‖
The syringes, produced at the Japanese-owned Terumo Europe plant, in Leuven, are used in vaccine
programmes and sold to large pharmaceutical companies. Terumo says it did research in 2012 that
found minuscule fluid glue parts did not harden and that there was a chance that traces could enter into
patients' bodies through the needle.
However, it points out that BADGE is not considered as a carcinogen, mutagen or toxic for
reproduction (CMR) under European regulations, and adds that, based on its findings, it launched
further internal and external research. "These analyses," the company says, "have proven that our
injection needles represent no health risk.‖
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http://www.food.dtu.dk/english/News/2015/02/National-Food-Institute-maintains-its-assessment-ofbisphenol-A
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National Food Institute maintains its assessment of
bisphenol A
Monday 23 Feb 15
by Miriam Meister
After having examined the European Food Safety Authority, EFSA's new health assessment of
bisphenol A, the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, maintains its assessment of
the chemical compound. The institute’s researchers assess that the safe level recently recommended by
EFSA does not adequately protect consumers against endocrine disrupting effects of bisphenol A.
The chemical compound bisphenol A, which is used in plastic packaging and paper, is suspected of
having adverse health effects in humans. In January 2015 EFSA published a health assessment of the
compound, which concludes that an intake of less than 4 micrograms per kilogram body weight per day
does not pose a health risk. Previously EFSA had concluded that the tolerable daily intake, TDI, should
be less than or equal to 50 micrograms per kilogram of body weight.
"The health risks of bisphenol A are of concern particularly for highly exposed persons."
The National Food Institute has examined EFSA’s toxicological evaluations with a focus on the main
conclusions in the report and to determine whether the new TDI is sufficiently protective and thus gives
the institute cause to change its earlier assessment of bisphenol A.
EFSA’s recommended safe level of bisphenol A too high
The National Food Institute’s scientists evaluate that EFSA’s new TDI does not adequately protect
against endocrine disrupting effects. One reason is that EFSA does not apply an appropriate uncertainty
factor. Moreover the researchers find that EFSA in establishing the new TDI has not sufficiently taken
data from animal studies showing effects on female mammary gland, the male reproductive system,
and brain development and function into account.
According to the National Food Institute's calculations the new TDI should be 0.7 micrograms per
kilogram body weight per day or lower to be sufficiently protective against endocrine disrupting
effects. The institute's assessment is based on the same studies as those in the EFSA report.
"We maintain the National Food Institute's previous risk assessment of bisphenol A. We evaluate that a
tolerable intake of bisphenol A should be lower than one fifth of the EFSA recommended limit,"
Professor Ulla Hass from the National Food Institute says.
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High exposure causes concern
EFSA has evaluated that for people with the highest level of exposure, men and women are exposed to
more than 1 microgram of bisphenol A per kilogram per day, while children and teenagers are exposed
to between 1.26 and 1.45 micrograms per kilogram day. Based on this, EFSA has concluded that intake
of the compound does not pose a health risk, given that the maximum intake is three to four times less
than the new recommended TDI.
"However comparison of the exposure to the TDI recommended by the National Food Institute shows
that humans with a high exposure may exceed the safe limit. Their intake can come from food, cash
receipts and cosmetics," Ulla Hass says.
"The health risks of bisphenol A are of concern particularly for highly exposed persons. The concern
applies particularly to pregnant or breastfeeding women as well as children as they will be sensitive to
potential effects that occur even at low doses of the compound," Ulla Hass adds.
Neither EFSA’s nor the National Food Institute’s risk assessment takes into account that there can be
increased risk caused by bisphenol A if present in a chemical cocktail with other environmental
chemicals that have similar effects to bisphenol A. This means that the risk in both cases may be
underestimated.
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https://www.dailytexanonline.com/2015/02/25/ut-researcher-finds-synthetic-estrogen-in-bpa-free-plastics
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UT researcher finds synthetic estrogen in BPA-free
plastics
Published on February 25, 2015 By Lauren Florence
A UT researcher reported that products made without bisphenol A (BPA)
emitted more synthetic estrogen than products containing the chemical.
Neurobiology professor George Bittner published an article with the results of
research from testing commercially-available plastic products advertised as
BPA-free. BPA is a chemical plastic additive often found in household
products, such as baby bottles.
According to the article, the researchers found almost all the sampled plastic products released
chemicals with estrogenic activity.
Bittner and his team were unavailable to comment on the report’s findings.
Synthetic estrogens can cause health-related problems, including early puberty in females, reduced
sperm counts in males, altered functions of reproductive organs, obesity and increased rates of certain
cancers, according to the report.
Fetuses and young children are particularly sensitive to very low doses of chemicals with estrogen
activity, according to the report.
Chemistry senior Meredith Ward said that plastic is ―bad, in general,‖ because of the environmental
effects it causes and how much of it ends up in landfills.
―I’ve always known that plastics were dangerous, but I guess the public has a misconception of BPAfree plastics being safe when they really aren’t.‖ Ward said.
Consumers should realize that they’re not just looking for BPA-free plastics anymore but for plastics
that don’t leach synthetic estrogens, said Clemens Lee, mechanical engineering student and member of
Engineers for a Sustainable World.
―I believe that, as a consumer, it is important to realize what we are looking for in terms of health
safety in our products,‖ Lee said. ―It is also important for a consumer to see beyond the product
marketing, but that in itself can be very difficult and require much more research on the consumer’s
end.‖
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Lee said he hopes, with more evaluation and research, there will be safe-to-use products which do not
have adverse health effects. Synthetic estrogen has been found in other chemicals, according to Lee,
and he said there is progress being made in eliminating estrogen activity from plastic products.
―Now that we have found [estrogen activity] in other chemicals, I believe there should also be a
movement towards producing consumer plastics that are [estrogen] free,‖ Lee said. ―Instead of
pursuing a ban or elimination of each possible chemical that has [estrogen activity], we should be
looking towards creating products that are safe to use.‖
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https://chemicalwatch.com/22945/child-gender-ratios-linked-to-phthalates-bpa-says-us-institute
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Child gender ratios linked to phthalates and BPA says US
institute
26 February 2015 / United States, Risk assessment
The sex of children may be affected by parental exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates,
according to a recent study led by researchers from the US government's National Institute of Child
Health and Human Development. The paper correlated urinary metabolites of BPA and 14 phthalates of
parents with the sex of the child born.
The study included 220 US births, 43.9% of which were boys. Paternal BPA and mono-isobutyl
phthalate levels were significantly linked to an excess of female births. But maternal BPA, monoisobutyl phthalate, mono-benzyl phthalate and mono-n-butyl phthalate were significantly associated
with an excess of males.
The researchers conclude that these studies are the first of their kind, and need to be replicated for
confirmation. The study is published in the journal, Environmental Research.
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http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/health_food-safety/dyna/enews/enews.cfm?al_id=1580
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Public Health (27-02-2015)
SCENIHR Final Opinion on The safety of the use of bisphenol A
in medical devices
Today, the European Commission and its non-food Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly
Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) have published the final opinion on ―The safety of the use of
bisphenol A in medical devices”.Concern for the safety of vulnerable groups such as infants, pregnant and breast-feeding women when
exposed to bisphenol A (BPA) through medical devices have recently been raised. Such medical
devices include include implants, catheters, and most dental devices.
This opinion aims to assess whether the use of bisphenol A in these devices could give reasons for
safety concerns, to provide indications on limit values for BPA release from medical devices and to
identify any patient group, e.g. infants, pregnant and breastfeeding women who would be particularly at
risk.
When drafting the final opinion the SCENIHR considered the temporary oral TDI (t-TDI) of 4 µg/kg
b.w./day derived by EFSA as a solid base for carrying out the risk assessment for the use of BPA in
medical devices. Several exposure scenarios have been evaluated taking into account the material used,
information related to BPA leaching, the duration of a single treatment and the frequency of treatments,
giving rise to toxicologically relevant acute, short and long term exposure. However, the information
available is very limited and in many cases due to the lack of experimental data, only estimations were
used.
Concerning exposure via the oral route, it can be concluded that the long term exposure to BPA via
dental material is far below the recently derived t-TDI and poses negligible risk for human health
associated to BPA exposure.
Some risk for adverse effects may exist, when the BPA is directly available for systemic exposure after
non-oral exposure routes, especially for neonates in intensive care units, for infants undergoing
prolonged medical procedures and for dialysis patients.
In spite of this, it should be considered also the benefit of medical devices: the survival of neonates, for
example, often depends on the availability of the medical devices which causes a relatively high BPA
exposure. The possibility to replace BPA in these products should be considered against their efficiency
in the treatment, as well as the toxicological profile of the alternative materials, when available.
However, better data on exposure would be beneficial for the refinement of the present risk assessment,
to be carried out when new data on exposure via medical devices will be available.

Full Opinion on "The safety of the use of bisphenol A in medical devices‖

Fact sheet of the Opinion in four languages
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http://www.nj.com/gloucestercounty/index.ssf/2015/03/bpa_and_autism_study_by_rowan_rutgers_researchers.html
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BPA and Autism: Study by Rowan, Rutgers researchers
shows link
By Kelly Roncace | South Jersey Times
on March 04, 2015
Dr. T. Peter Stein (Photo provided)
Bisphenol-A -- also known as BPA -- is a controversial chemical found in
items such as water bottles, soda cans, and even some paper products.
It has long been suspected that BPA is somehow linked to autism in children,
but, until now, has not been documented.
A new study by researchers from Rowan University School of Medicine in
Stratford and Rutgers New Jersey Medical School in Newark recently showed, for the first time, that
BPA is not metabolized well in children with autism.
RowanSOM's Dr. T. Peter Stein, the study's lead author, said the study -- conducted on both children
with autism and children without -- shows that BPA is processed differently in children on the autism
spectrum.
"There are studies that show that BPA acts as an endocrine disruptor," Stein said. "There are different
kinds of steroids (hormones) in the body -- testosterone, estrogen, progestins -- that regulate
metabolism. It turns out that BPA is a compound that can cause problems."
But why would children with autism have a harder time metabolizing the BPA chemical?
"BPA interferes with amino acids," Stein said. "Some amino acids serve as starting material for
neurotransmitters. That could be a connection."
These findings are especially significant because earlier studies involving the effects of BPA have only
involved results as recorded in animals.
"Other studies involving rodent data have shown that BPA functions as an endocrine disruptor, but ours
is the first to show this in humans, and the first to associate it to autism," Stein said.
While this study was conducted on a small group -- 46 children with autism and 52 without -- Stein
said he hopes the findings will prompt other researchers to follow up with more testing.
"The key point is that the study seems to link BPA to autism, and creates an open area for further
research," Stein said. "If we do that, we've accomplished something."
The research team also included Margaret Schluter and Robert Steer of RowanSOM, and Child
Neurologist Xue Ming of NJMS.
This research was supported by grants from the New Jersey Governor's Council for Medical Research
and Treatment of Autism, and the National Institutes of Health, and by a contract with the U.S.
Department of Defense.
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http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=4161#.VRRcgOFwt6I
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Laboratory Study Shows Future Generations of Fish
Affected by Endocrine Disruptor Exposure
Released: 3/24/2015
Contact Information:
U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological
Survey
Office of Communications and Publishing
12201 Sunrise Valley Dr, MS 119
Reston, VA 20192
Jennifer LaVista
Phone: 303-202-4764
Donald Tillitt
Phone: 573-876-1866
Fish exposed to the endocrine-disrupting chemicals bisphenol A (BPA) or 17a-ethinylestradiol (EE2) in
a laboratory have been found to pass adverse reproductive effects onto their offspring up to three
generations later, according to a new study by the U.S. Geological Survey and the University of
Missouri.
Aquatic environments are the ultimate reservoirs for many contaminants, including chemicals that
mimic the functions of natural hormones. Fish and other aquatic organisms often have the greatest
exposures to such chemicals during critical periods in development or even entire life cycles.
Scientists exposed fish to either BPA or EE2 for one week during embryonic development, while
subsequent generations were never exposed. Future generations showed a reduced rate of fertilization
and increased embryo mortality. The full study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, is available
online.
―This study shows that even though endocrine disruptors may not affect the life of the exposed fish, it
may negatively affect future generations,‖ said USGS visiting scientist and University of Missouri
Assistant Research Professor, Ramji Bhandari. ―This is the first step in understanding how endocrine
disruptors affect future generations, and more studies are needed to determine what happens in the
natural environment.‖
There were no apparent reproductive abnormalities in the first two generations of fish, except for two
instances of male to female sex reversal in adults of the EE2 exposed generation. Findings show a 30
percent decrease in the fertilization rate of fish two generations after exposure, and a 20 percent
reduction after three generations. If those trends continued, the potential for declines in overall
population numbers might be expected in future generations. These adverse outcomes, if shown in
natural populations, could have negative impacts on fish inhabiting contaminated aquatic environments.
This study examined concentrations of EE2 and BPA that are not expected to be found in most
environmental situations. However, concerns remain about the possibility of passing on adverse
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reproductive effects to future generations at lower levels. At this time, the ability to evaluate mixtures
of estrogenic chemicals working jointly is limited.
The scientists studied BPA and EE2 because they are chemicals of environmental concern and
represent different classes of endocrine disrupters. BPA is a chemical used primarily to manufacture
polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins, but is also an additive in other consumer products. Due to
extensive use of these products in daily human life, the accumulation of BPA-containing waste in the
environment has been a serious concern and a potential threat to public and wildlife health. EE2 is used
in oral contraceptives designed for women, and about 16 – 68 percent of each dose is excreted from the
body. As a result, EE2 has been found in aquatic environments downstream of wastewater treatment
plants.
For more information on endocrine disruptors visit the USGS Columbia Environmental Research
Center web page.
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https://chemicalwatch.com/23282/review-finds-bisphenol-f-and-s-effects-similar-to-bisphenol-a
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Review finds bisphenol F and S effects similar to
bisphenol A
26 March 2015 / North America, Risk assessment
A review of recent papers on the hormonal activities of bisphenol F (BPF) and bisphenol S (BPS)
concludes that most demonstrate the compounds have similar potency and hormonal properties to
bisphenol A (BPA). The research was published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives by
scientists from the Endocrine Disruption Exchange in Colorado.
Authors Johanna Rochester and Ashley Bolden found 1,370 studies, of which 32 were identified as
relevant – very few compared with BPA. Twenty five of these were in vitro and only seven were in
vivo.
However, both compounds, which are widely used as substitutes for BPA, showed oestrogenic, antioestrogenic, androgenic and anti-androgenic properties, the authors say.
BPS and BPF appear to have similar metabolism, potencies, and mechanisms of action as BPA and
may pose similar potential health hazards, the review concludes. Future research efforts to find
substitutes for BPA should focus on compounds which do not have similar structures and hormonal
activity.
Recently published papers by Swiss and German researchers have also concluded that BPF and BPS
have similar health effects to BPA (CW 22 January 2015).
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http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/02/150226-bisphenol-s-bpa-plastics-health-science/
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Chemical in BPA-Free Products Linked to
Irregular Heartbeats
New ingredient in plastic bottles, receipts has same effect on lab animals as the old
chemical does.
Water bottles that are free of the controversial chemical bisphenol-A (BPA) hang on display at an outdoor supply store in Arcadia,
California.
Brian Clark Howard
Published February 25, 2015
Many consumers avoid products that contain bisphenol-A (BPA) because the estrogen-imitating
chemical has been linked to an array of health effects in people and animals. But new research
published Thursday suggests that an ingredient that has replaced BPA in many items may have a
similar effect on the heart.
BPA-free labels have been popping up on many plastic bottles, cash register receipts, food packaging,
and other products.
Although the label implies a sense of safety, "our research suggests that BPS and potentially other BPA
substitutes aren't necessarily free of health problems," said Hong-Sheng Wang, a professor of
pharmacology at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.
Exposure to BPS, or bisphenol-S, caused irregular heartbeats in female lab rats, according to the study
by Wang and colleagues published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. The findings
were "remarkably similar—if not identical to—what we find in BPA," Wang said.
The scientists discovered that BPS changes how the rats' cells respond to estrogen, a result that has
been suggested in previous studies. Specifically, BPS interferes with the way calcium is stored in heart
muscle cells, causing leakage as well as extra absorption. That, in turn, alters heartbeats.
This is the same way that BPA affects rats' hearts, "raising the concern of potential cardiac toxicity of
BPS," Wang said.
Little Known about Exposures
16
The scientists removed the rats' hearts and kept them alive and beating for some time by running a
solution through them that contains oxygen, glucose, and other nutrients. Then they added BPS and
monitored the effect on cells. This technique is commonly used to measure the impact of various
chemicals on the heart.
Wang said the rats were exposed to doses that may be similar to the amounts that people encounter
from water bottles, receipts, and other items. However, very little is known about human exposures;
much more is known about BPA, which is found in the blood of virtually every person tested.
Because BPS is so similar to BPA, it's not surprising that it may have similar health effects, said
Frederick vom Saal, a University of Missouri-Columbia biology professor who studies the chemicals
but was not involved in the new study.
Previous research, he said, found that BPS stimulates human breast cancer cells at a slightly higher
dose than BPA does. Also, in a recent study with zebrafish, BPS disrupted prenatal brain development.
"So the idea that BPS is safe as an alternative to BPA is clearly not true," vom Saal said.
Rats are commonly used to investigate the potential impact of chemicals on the human heart because
people and rodents share similar cardiovascular physiology.
The changes were only found in female rats; male rats showed no increase in irregular heartbeats after
exposure to BPS.
Any potential human health impacts from using products containing BPS are unknown. No human
studies have been conducted.
The American Chemistry Council, which represents chemical manufacturers, declined to comment on
BPS because it represents companies that make BPA, not BPS.
Can BPS Be Avoided?
Some hard plastic water bottles and other products labeled BPA free are also labeled BPS free,
including popular Nalgene bottles. But in many cases it is difficult for consumers to determine if a
product contains BPS.
Roughly half of the BPA-free thermal paper used for cash register receipts may contain BPS, according
to a preliminary analysis. Some receipts contain both chemicals.
"I think it would be prudent to test BPS and other chemicals with a similar structure, instead of just
assuming that they are safe," Wang said.
Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated Appleton Coated makes papers that
contain BPS. Actually, Appleton Coated split from a company in 2000 that became Appvion, which
makes receipt papers.
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