The European Environment Agency recently warned of the omnipresence of bisphenol A, an endocrine disruptor, in the bodies of Europeans.
- Bisphenol A is present in 92% of Europeans’ bodies, according to the European Environment Agency (EEA).
- This chemical substance is classified as an endocrine disruptor.
Categorized as an endocrine disruptor, bisphenol A (BPA) is a synthetic chemical substance, which could have serious consequences on health. Numerous studies have warned of the suspected effects of this product, in particular on reproduction, cardiovascular pathologies and metabolism.
Bisphenol A: the recommended threshold exceeded among Europeans
In a report published this September 14, the European Environment Agency (EEA) indicated that traces of bisphenol A have been found in more than 9 out of 10 Europeans. “As part of a recent human biomonitoring initiative, BPA was detected in 92% of adult participants from eleven European countries”, explained the AEE. Depending on the country, the level of excess varied from 71% to 100%, according to the results of this work.
The two main uses of BPA have long been the manufacture of plastic (polycarbonate type) and epoxy resins. In Europe, this chemical substance, used for more than 50 years, is present in the composition of many materials containing food such as baby bottles, tableware, microwave oven containers and polycarbonate food storage boxes as well as as packaging with a protective film or epoxyphenolic coating (cans, tins, metal lids, etc.).
BPA: a banned substance in food containers In France
In France, BPA has been banned in baby bottles and other food containers since 2015. This is also the case in other countries. For now, the United States and the European Union have limited its use and wish to restrict it further.
However, the various European agencies cannot agree on the dangerousness of the dose of BPA to which populations are exposed daily. For the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), it would be much lower than expected. She divided it by 20,000 during a previous evaluation.
However, this advice is disputed by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), which has claimed that exposure to BPA “is well above acceptable health safety levels (…) which represents a potential risk to the health of millions of people.”
