メディエイゴ

Higher levels of urinary(1) Bisphenol A(2) (BPA), a chemical compound(3) commonly(4) used in plastic packaging(5) for food and beverages(6), is associated with(7) cardiovascular disease(8), type 2 diabetes(9) and liver-enzyme(10) abnormalities(11), according to(12) a study in the September 17 issue of JAMA. This study is being released(13) early to coincide with(14) a Food and Drug Administration(15) (FDA) hearing(16) on BPA.

BPA is one of the world’s highest production–volume(17) chemicals(18), with more than two million metric tons(19) produced worldwide(20) in 2003 and annual increase in demand of 6 percent to 10 percent annually(21), according to background information in the article. It is used in plastics(22) in many consumer products(23). “Widespread(24) and continuous(25) exposure(26) to BPA, primarily(27) through food but also through drinking water, dental sealants(28), dermal(29) exposure, and inhalation(30) of household dusts(31), is evident(32) from the presence of detectable(33) levels of BPA in more than 90 percent of the U.S. population,” the authors write. Evidence of adverse effects(34) in animals has created concern over low-level chronic(35) exposures in humans, but there is little data of sufficient statistical power(36) to detect(37) low-dose(38) effects. This is the first study of associations with BPA levels in a large population, and it explores “normal” levels of BPA exposure.

David Melzer, M.B., Ph.D., of Peninsula Medical School, Exeter, U.K., and colleagues(39) examined associations between urinary BPA concentrations(40) and the health status(41) of adults, using data from the National Health and Nutrition(42) Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003-2004. The survey included 1,455 adults, age 18 through 74 years, with measured urinary BPA concentrations.