What is Bisphenol A (BPA)? And how does this plasticizer end up in our body? What about our diet, our drinking water and our skin? How safe is BPA for human health? Does Bisphenol A cause such changes in human metabolism that we can speak of a real fattening factor (or obesogenic factor)? What are other possible harmful effects of the plasticizer BPA?
What is Bisphenol A (BPA)?
BPA is an organic compound found in many daily products. As an estrogenic, hormone disrupting compound, Bisphenol A is a substance that disrupts the normal hormonal function of the human body. This substance leads to accumulations of fat in the body that are completely independent of any changes in diet or exercise patterns. In that sense, BPA is one of the silent fatteners. The presence of BPA in human urine also appears to be related to the occurrence of diabetes and metabolic or cardiovascular diseases.
In addition, some studies in rodents exposed to low doses of BPA appear to have adverse effects on fertility and reproduction. It remains unclear to what extent the results of research on rodents such as mice are indicative of the effects on humans.
In addition to BPA, other factors unrelated to changes in diet and exercise patterns are also blamed for promoting obesity. In this context, consider, for example, certain biological causes of obesity, the AD36 virus or the use of antibiotics. These factors may play a role if dieting and learning healthy eating habits do not have the desired effect.
How do we come into contact with Bisphenol A?
Every day we come into contact with Bisphenol A (BPA) in different ways. This contact takes place, for example, through our food, drinking water or through the skin.
What about BPA and our daily diet?
Through polycarbonate products
BPA is a raw material for the production of polycarbonate: a hard and transparent plastic of high quality. Consider items such as microwave dishes, table cutlery or unbreakable drinking bottles (for example with soft drinks in them). Since June 2011, polycarbonate baby bottles have not been allowed to be sold in the Netherlands.
Via the coating of food cans or cardboard packaging
BPA is used in the form of bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE) as a protective coating on the inside of food cans or cardboard packaging, or in water reservoirs and drinking water pipes.
How does BPA from coatings and plastic objects end up in our bodies?
Bisphenol A diffuses (mixes) with liquids such as water, soft drinks and other foods. That is why almost all people in the Western world have detectable amounts of BPA in their blood and urine.
What are other avenues for BPA to enter the human body?
Bisphenol A occurs on thermal paper. In research among cashiers who worked with receipts made of thermal paper, increased BPA levels were measured. It is suspected that BPA also enters the human body through the skin. Furthermore, this plasticizer is even found in cigarette filters, which may mean that the substance can also enter the human body through inhalation of cigarette smoke.
At what values of BPA do the harmful effects occur?
Bisphenol A is a substance that is used in many daily products in the Western world. The industry therefore has strong interests in the continued use of this substance. It has not yet been unequivocally scientifically established at what measured values there are adverse health effects. It is certain that the harmful effects depend on the level of the measured value, the duration of exposure to the substance and the stage of life the person is in.
The discussion about the degree of safety of the substance and the lowest values at which negative health effects are measured continues. But in any case it is certain that the plasticizer Bisphenol A is one of the thickeners. If you are serious about dieting and healthy eating habits, the cause of your excess weight may partly be due to this substance.
Other harmful effects of the plasticizer BPA
In addition to its fattening effect, BPA also appears to have other negative health effects. There is scientific evidence that exposure of children to this substance can lead to infertility in women. And that exposure of adults to BPA can shorten their fertile period.
A study by the famous American Harvard University, published in 2013, shows a link between higher BPA levels in the urine of women and reduced maturation of their eggs. There are indications, partly from previous animal experiments, that BPA has a negative effect on, among other things, the cell structure and the organization of the chromosomes during the maturation of the eggs.
Harvard University also suspects that the increased degree of abnormal maturation in eggs exposed to the plasticizer BPA may partly explain the reduction in fertility observed in recent decades .
There is therefore every reason to try to keep the BPA levels in your body as low as possible, partly to prevent obesity and partly for other health reasons.
Special Little known causes of obesity
This article is part of the special Little-known causes of obesity. In it you can read, among other things, about biological factors, the AD36 virus and antibiotics as fatteners.
read more
- Biological causes of obesity
- Obesity due to antibiotics
- Can the AD36 virus make you fat?