Is the Bisphenol A in polycarbonate a serious hazard to human health?
Abstract: Polycarbonate, which is a polymer plastic, is found in many bottles and
food packaging around the world. However, because Bisphenol A is used in the
processing of it, there is a potential danger to humans. Bisphenol A is a molecule that is a
hormone inhibitor and also mirrors the function of estrogen. Although the EPA has
released a safe level for Bisphenol A ingestion, recent research has shown that those
levels may not be safe for humans. Until further testing is done, scientists aren’t certain
of the threshold of BPA intake in humans before dangerous health effects occur.
Polycarbonate of Bisphenol A is a thermoplastic polymer that is easily shaped,
worked with, and transformed. It has become a popular plastic for manufacturers to use,
and they have been under fire recently for making bottles and food packaging out of this
possibly potent material. Polycarbonate has the recycling number 7 and usually the letters
PC. It contains multiple functional groups linked together by carbonate groups in a
molecular chain. In the structure of this repeating molecule, there are the carbonate
groups and methyl groups. The polycarbonate of Bisphenol A (BPA) is different from the
others because it is processed using that molecule. The synthesis of this type of
polycarbonate is as follows:
2
Bisphenol A and sodium hydroxide react to form the sodium salt of Bisphenol A.
http://pslc.ws/macrog/pc.htm
Then, this molecule is reacted with phosgene. Phosgene was once used as a
chemical weapon in World War I, but now is an important component of organic
compounds. The molecular formula of phosgene is Cl2CO.
http://pslc.ws/macrog/pc.htm Final step in...
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...and dose dependency of the
pharmacokinetics and metabolism of bisphenol A in neonatal sprague-dawley rats following oral
administration. 77(2): 230-242.
Elsby, Robert, James Maggs, John Ashby, and Kevin Park. "Comparison of the Modulatory
Effects of Human and Rat Liver Microsomal Metabolism on the Estrogenicity of Bisphenol A:
Implications for Extrapolation to Humans." Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental
Therapeutics 297 (2001).
LeGrand, Donald. Handbook of polycarbonate science and technology, NY, 2000.
NTP BRIEF ON BISPHENOL A. Rep.No. 80-05-7. National Toxicology Program. 2008.
"Plastics chemical bisphenol-A may promote breast cancer." 28 Aug. 2006. 25 July 2008.
.
“Polycarbonates” 25 July 2008.
...is still research to be done, but for now it is up to the individual to decide if he or she is healthy enough to take these products safely or if it is even worth taking,given the long-term effects.
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a synthetic compound used worldwide in the manufacturing of plastics and epoxy resins. Derivatives of BPA are present in resin-based sealants and composites used in dentistry.1 Some of these compounds include bis-DMA (BPA dimethacrylate), bis-GMA (BPA glycidyl methacrylate) and BADGE (BPA diglycidylether).1
EPA. (2009, December 29). Retrieved January 15, 2011, from Toxicity and Exposure Assessment for Children's Health: http://www.epa.gov/teach/
Sophisticated methods of testing are now being applied to human cells in petri dishes. Human volunteers are also being used and micro-dose with samples so small that they do not cause adverse reactions. The argument exists that these alternative testing methods are not only more cost effective but also more relevant because they are conducted using human cells and specimens; a method that isn’t hindered by species differences. In addition, computer generated models are being used to produce virtual reconstructions in order to test toxicity.
Humans are among the many terrestrial mammals affected by the endocrine-disrupting capabilities of bisphenol A. The majority of human exposure comes from consumption of BPA from food products packaged in polycarbonate plastics (Crain et al., 2007). Laboratory studies done on mice indicate that exposure to high concentrations of BPA can cause pregnancy complications, reproductive organ defects, obesity, early puberty, and cancer (reviewed by Flint et al., 2012).
level for mice, dogs, rabbits, cats and chimpanzees, but not for young or old men and women. Some animals die in the test as a result of the volume of material, not the toxicity of the material. Most important, is the number of animals that suffer unnecessarily: why pour drain cleaner down the throats of animals, when humans would never do such a thing?
and Europe, which include reduction of animal use, refine animal study techniques, and animal testing replacement. According to Dana ,Bidnall, “Animals are also used, and subsequently killed, every year in many other types of laboratory experiments, from military testing to simulated car crashes to deliberately introduced diseases such as AIDS and Alzheimer 's”(49). Bidnal also states that, “These experiments take place in labs at universities, pharmaceutical companies, and testing agencies, and on farms and military bases around the world”(49). The author suggest,”Researchers who conduct experiments on animals argue that it would be unethical to test substances with potentially adverse side effects on humans; animals are good surrogates because their responses are similar to humans”(49).Bidnal contends with ,”However, some animals are chosen for other reasons”(49). According to Bindal, “Animal testing is not the only option in toxicity testing”(50). Bidnal states, “Alternatives are widely available and include human clinical and epidemiological studies; experiments with cadavers, volunteers,and patients; computer simulation and mathematical models; and in vitro (test tube) tissue culture techniques, to name just a
Alternative methods are sometimes more reliable, more accurate, cost-effective, practical, and expedient Alternative testing can be used for in preclinical studies .These methods are vitro methods (human cells and tissues), silico models (advanced computer-modeling techniques), studies with human volunteers (microdosing, advanced brain imaging and recording techniques), stem cell, genetic testing methods, computerized patient-drug databases ,virtual drug trials and human-patient simulators can be used for the assessment of the safety of drugs, chemicals, cosmetics, medical devices, consumer and investigational products.
... humans extrapolated from animal studies is so high that it cannot be achieved by ... users."
the fda reports that 92 our of every 100 drugs that pass animal tests fail in humans
An example of an additive is di-butyl phthalate and biphenyl A (BPA), these substances are incorporated while the plastics are being manufactured to provide tensile flexibility and tensile strength. The microplastics tend to accumulate and adsorb toxic materials from the seawater around them, such as organic pollutants and heavy metals. The chemicals are not bound to the microplastic surface, and as a result, when ingested they tend to leach into the animal tissues (Do Sul, J. A. I, 2014). The impacts from such chemical leaches include hepatic stress in fish, mortality, and endocrine
used for everything from the baby food you feed your child to the TV commercial
That is the reason that it is highly susceptible to a huge number of laws and regulations in order to ensure the health and safety of the consumers.
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical compound used to create polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins. Polycarbonate plastics are found in a wide range of products, but food and drink containers are the most concerning. Most people fear that BPA will have negative effect...
test whatever it's a bad effect or not. So when it used on humans, we