BPA passes from cans to humans

BPA goes from cans to the human organism

11/24/2011

US researchers have discovered that the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) in significantly higher concentrations than previously thought from canned food on the food passes and is absorbed during eating by humans.

As the scientists around Jenny Carwile of the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) in the current issue of the journal „Journal of the American Medical Association“ (JAMA) report, they found out in a unique study that individuals who consumed canned soups for five consecutive days showed a massive increase in urinary bisphenol A levels.

Five days of food from the tin can raise BPA concentration sharply
As part of their research, the researchers around Jenny Carwile have formed two groups of 75 volunteer study participants and served vegetarian soups over a period of five days. The one group received about 3.4 kilograms (12 ounces) of canned food soup a day, the control group was supplied with the same amount of fresh soup - without any ingredients from food cans. After the first two days, the group was changed to reasonably balance the initial load between the two groups. Reported by US researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health, study participants showed a significant increase in BPA levels in urine immediately after canned feeding. Overall, on the fourth and fifth day of the study, the BPA concentration of urine samples averaged 20.8 micrograms per liter for the canned food subjects versus 1.1 micrograms for the control group. However, the researchers also found in 58 study participants of the control group bisphenol A in the urine. The concentration, however, did not begin to reach the levels observed in the canned subjects.

Manufacturers should avoid BPA in their products
In the study of canned food, the magnitude of the increase in BPA in the urine was unexpectedly high after just one serving of soup, according to US researchers. This could be for „People who regularly consume canned foods“, be quite questionable, said Jenni Carwile and colleagues. The increased BPA levels found immediately after canned food in the current study were, according to the researchers, extreme, but may have been only temporary spikes. Thus, further research is needed to investigate the long-term effects of cans on BPD in the human body. The current research suggests, however, that „It may be useful for manufacturers to eliminate BPA from the fairings“ checking the doses, said the study's senior author, Karin Michels.

Massive health risks from the chemical bisphenol A
Bisphenol A is because of the possible health consequences, for a long time massively in the criticism and is prohibited, for example, in baby bottles and pacifiers since March 2003 by the legislature. Since then, almost all manufacturers have „BPA-free“-Please note that there is no bisphenol A in their pacifiers and baby bottles. However, BPA continues to be used in many other plastic products, such as plastic bottles, children's toys, but also tin can coatings. Potential health risks posed by the chemical include an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, breast and prostate cancer, hormonal imbalances, and ovarian disease. Also developmental impairments - especially of the brain - in infants are considered as a possible consequence of BPA, as well as damage to the genome, an increased risk of diabetes and negative consequences on the course of pregnancy. In addition, erection problems and impaired fertility, according to the experts to the health risks of bisphenol A. That the dangerous chemical is still used in the production of toys, box candies, numerous everyday items but also packaging that come into contact with food, seems therefore particularly critical. Also, the use of BPA in the coating of cans with epoxy resins should be urgently stopped in the light of current research results, especially since the canned food certainly fulfill their purpose even without BPA. (Fp)

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Picture: Karin Schumann