Why You Should Be Worried about BPA

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a synthetic chemical used in a wide range of products such as epoxy paints and glue, lining of food cans, and thermal paper receipts. BPA is also used as a building block in polycarbonate plastics which can be used to make food containers and baby bottles, despite BPA being a known endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC).

Concerns about BPA’s impact on health have been raised, particularly regarding its effects on foetuses, infants, and children. Studies have indicated that exposure to BPA can affect brain development and the prostate gland in foetuses, infants, and children.

Exposure to BPA has also been linked to behavioural changes in children. These can include altered responses to environmental stimuli, increased anxiety, and hyperactivity. Such behavioural effects are thought to result from BPA’s interference with normal brain development during critical growth periods.

Additionally, BPA exposure has been associated with various other neurological effects. It can interfere with neurotransmitter function and synaptic plasticity, which are crucial for learning and memory. Long-term exposure to BPA may increase the risk of developing neurodevelopmental disorders.

Studies have also suggested that BPA exposure may contribute to the development of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension. BPA’s ability to interfere with endocrine function can lead to metabolic changes that increase the risk of these conditions. For example, BPA has been found to affect the regulation of blood pressure and insulin resistance, which are critical factors in cardiovascular and metabolic health.

BPA is Restricted in Some Countries, including Malaysia

Health and environmental concerns have led many countries to restrict use of BPA in baby bottles and other items in contact with children’s food or placed into the children’s mouths

In Malaysia, according to provision Regulation 27A of the Food Regulations 1985:

(1) No person shall import, manufacture or advertise for sale or sell any feeding bottles containing Bisphenol A (BPA).

(2) The words “BPA free” may be labelled on the feeding bottles or on the packages of the feeding bottles which do not contain Bisphenol A (BPA).

In the European Union, BPA was banned from use in baby bottles in 2011, based on the evidence that a baby’s metabolic system is more vulnerable than the metabolic system of adults. The EU also imposed a maximum limit of BPA migration from food contact materials into food. Moreover, BPA was listed as a “substance of very high concern” (SVHC) because of its endocrine disrupting properties both for human health and the environment.

In China, BPA has been restricted from polycarbonate baby feeding bottles and other infant feeding bottles since 2011.  In Indonesia, the allowable concentration of BPA in food contact materials should not be higher than 600 μg/kg.

BPA in Children’s Products

BPA was found to be present in children’s products in various countries, including Malaysia, in an IPEN study.

78% of samples contained BPA: 76 out of 98 samples analysed contained BPA above the limit of quantification (LOQ). The samples collected from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, China, Indonesia and Russia included different baby feeding bottles and other items in contact with food or children’s mouths marked to be made of polycarbonate, polypropylene, a combination of the two materials, or silicone.

BPA was detected in all 9 Malaysian samples of polycarbonate bottles tested. The amount of BPA detected in the Malaysian samples ranged from 0.3- 5.8 parts per billion (ppb).

Misleading labelling: 14 out of 23 (61%) products labelled “BPA-free” or “0% BPA” were found to be misleading because they contained BPA. One baby feeding bottle (“Minitree regular neck feeding bottle”), made in China and purchased in Malaysia, containing 2.6 ppb BPA was labelled “BPA-free”, violating Malaysia’s prohibition. Regulatory gaps in some regions result in insufficient oversight regarding the accuracy of “BPA-free” claims. In certain cases, manufacturers might deliberately mislabel products to cater to consumer demand for safer, non-toxic products.

Legislation violations

The importance of adherence to legislation cannot be overstated. Strict adherence to national and international regulations helps protect consumers, especially vulnerable populations like infants, from harmful substances. Ensuring that products meet regulatory standards maintains market integrity and trust. Misleading labels and regulatory violations can undermine consumer confidence and pose significant health risks.

Legal status of other samples:  Two baby feeding bottles made in India, both non-compliant with Indian legislation, are marketed in Bhutan. Use of BPA in baby feeding bottles is prohibited according to IS 14625:2015 by the Bureau of Indian Standards (2015).

The legal status of BPA in various products depends on regional regulations. Samples containing BPA above the LOQ may still be legal if they comply with specific threshold concentrations set by different regions. Items not covered by BPA regulations, like certain toys or industrial products, remain legal regardless of BPA content. Additionally, regions without specific BPA legislation allow products with BPA above the LOQ to be legally sold, highlighting the need for more comprehensive global regulations.

Highest BPA Concentrations

Extractable BPA: This refers to the amount of BPA that can be extracted from a product under specific conditions. The highest recorded extractable BPA concentration was 50,292 ng/L, found in a sample from China. This high concentration indicates significant levels of BPA present in the product, which could pose health risks if the product is used or consumed.

Leached BPA: This measures the amount of BPA that has migrated from a product into another medium, such as food or drink. The highest leached BPA concentration found was 12 µg/kg in a baby bottle from Bangladesh. This level of BPA leaching is concerning, especially for products intended for infants, as prolonged exposure to BPA can have adverse health effects.

Ban Bisphenols as a Group

It is shocking that so many products were mislabelled as BPA-free. Concerned parents are being tricked into buying products that can harm their babies. We need strict rules and enforcement for labelling toxic chemicals in consumer products. It is concerning to find BPA, a toxic chemical with no safe exposure level, in products specifically designed for children.

We need to advocate and make sure that all bisphenol chemicals are banned as a group, to avoid regrettable substitution of one toxic chemical with another. Exposing our children to endocrine disrupters such as BPA will affect their development and so it should be avoided at all costs.

References:

A Call to Action: Free Children from BPA’s Toxic Legacy. (n.d.). IPEN.
https://ipen.org/documents/call-action-free-children-bpas-toxic-legacy

Jeon, G. W. (n.d.). Bisphenol A leaching from polycarbonate baby bottles into baby food causes

potential health issues. NCBI.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9441614/

Toxic chemical found in Malaysian water bottles: Enforce ban on bottles containing BPA. Consumers Association Penang. (2022, February 22).
https://consumer.org.my/toxic-chemical-found-in-malaysian-water-bottles-enforce-ban-on-bottles-containing-bpa/