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Headquartered at the National Institute of Environmental ~ National Toxicology Program Health Sciences NIH-HHS

Bisphenol A (BPA) CUSTDlfER CO P'r' C.C RECEIPT What is BPA? l A, more commonly known e" 1 f!Ps11, £KP/Ry ORT£: [ 1 1 TUR r "'ID as BPA, is a chemical widely used visa to make and . 02

Where is BPA found? Polycarbonate plastics have many applications including use in some Why are people concerned What did the NTP and drink packaging such as about BPA? conclude about BPA? water and baby bottles, compact discs, One reason people may be concerned The NTP has “some concern“ for BPA’s impact-resistant safety equipment, and about BPA is because human exposure effects on the brain, behavior, and medical devices including those used to BPA is widespread.The 2003-2004 prostate gland in fetuses, infants, and in hospital settings.1 Epoxy resins are National Health and Nutrition children at current exposure levels. used to coat metal products such as Examination Survey (NHANES), The NTP has “minimal concern“ for food cans, bottle tops, and water supply conducted by the Centers for Disease effects on the mammary gland and pipes. BPA can also be found in certain Control and Prevention (CDC), found an earlier age for in females, thermal paper products, including detectable levels of BPA in 93% fetuses, infants, and children at current some cash register and ATM receipts. of Americans six years and older. exposure levels. Some dental sealants and composites Another reason for concern, especially may also contribute to BPA exposure. for parents, may be because some The NTP has “negligible concern“ that laboratory animal studies report subtle exposure of pregnant women to BPA How does BPA get into the body? developmental effects in fetuses and will result in fetal or neonatal mortality, newborns exposed to low doses of BPA. birth defects, or reduced birth weight BPA can leach into food from the epoxy and growth in their offspring. lining of cans and from consumer products such as polycarbonate Why did the National Toxicology The NTP has “negligible concern“ that tableware, containers, Program (NTP) evaluate BPA? exposure to BPA will cause reproductive water bottles, and baby bottles. The NTP Center for the Evaluation of effects in non-occupationally exposed Additional traces of BPA can leach Risks to Human Reproduction (CERHR) adults and “minimal concern” for out of these products when they are conducted the BPA evaluation. BPA was workers exposed to higher levels heated at high temperatures. Recent selected for evaluation because of the in occupational settings. studies also suggest that the public following factors: may be exposed to BPA by handling 2 • Widespread human exposure cash register receipts. More research from use and occurrence in The NIEHS and NTP are is needed to determine how much BPA the environment supporting research to better from a receipt’s coating enters the body understand the potential health and how it gets there.The National • Growing public concern effects of exposure to BPA. Institute of Environmental Health • Amount of BPA produced Sciences expects to support more • Extensive database of animal research to determine if BPA in studies on reproductive and receipts poses a risk to human health. developmental effects

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August 2010 0 Printed on recycled paper What can I do to prevent exposure to BPA? NTP conclusions regarding the possibilities that human development or reproduction might be adversely affected by exposure to bisphenol A. The NTP uses a five-level scale of concern: If you are concerned, you can make SERIOUS Concern personal choices to reduce exposure: for adverse- effects-- --- • Don’t microwave polycarbonate CONCERN food containers. for adverse effects Polycarbonate is strong and durable, but over time it may break Developmental tox icity for fetuses, infa nts, and children SOME Concern (effects on the brain, behavior,and prostate gland) for adverse effects down from repeated use at high Developmental toxici ty for fetuses, infa nts, and children temperatures. (effects on the mammary gland and ea rly puberty MINIMAL Concern in females),a nd reproductive toxici ty in workers for adverse effects • Avoid plastic containers with the #7 on the bottom (http://www. in adult men and NEGLIGIBLE Concern recyclenow.org/r_plastics.html). women and malformations in newborns for adverse effects • Don’t wash polycarbonate plastic containers in the dishwasher with harsh detergents. Explain the levels of concern The NTP conclusions are based on • Reduce your use of canned . used by the NTP. What does the weight of scientific evidence, Eat fresh or frozen foods. “some concern” mean? and integrate toxicity and exposure information. • When possible, opt for glass, “Some concern” represents the porcelain, or stainless steel mid-point of a five-level scale of How will the NTP containers, particularly for hot concern used by the NTP. The likelihood food or liquids. of an adverse effect resulting from conclusions be used? human exposure is expressed as The NTP shares the results widely. • Use infant formula bottles that a level of concern.The levels from For example, The NTP-CERHR are BPA free and look for toys highest to lowest are: Monograph, which includes the that are labeled BPA free. NTP Brief on BPA, the Expert Panel • Serious Concern • r I rrr f'llf!f'~~/f,ff,, f • Concern Report, and the public comments on the Panel Report, are added to • Some Concern the NTP/CERHR and NIEHS Web sites, Bispheno(~ • Minimal Concern and distributed to federal and state • Negligible Concern agencies, and interested individuals Where can I go for more information? In the case of BPA, the NTP expressed and organizations. It is also indexed For more information on what federal agencies “some concern” for potential exposures in PubMed. are doing related to BPA, visit the following web sites and search for “BPA.” to the fetus, infants, and children.There U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: are insufficient data from studies in What is the FDA’s current http://www.hhs.gov humans to reach a conclusion on perspective on BPA? U.S. Food and Drug Administration: reproductive or developmental In January 2010, the U.S. Food and http://www.fda.gov/ hazards presented by current Drug Administration (FDA) announced Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: exposures to BPA, but there is limited it shares the perspective of the NTP that http://www.cdc.gov/ evidence of developmental changes recent studies provide reason for some U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: occurring in some animal studies at concern about the potential effects of http://www.epa.gov/ doses that are experienced by humans. BPA on the brain, behavior, and prostate Consumer Product Safety Commission: http://www.cpsc.gov/ It is uncertain if similar changes would gland of fetuses, infants, and children. occur in humans, but the possibility National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences: Visit the FDA Web site at http://www. http://www.niehs.nih.gov of adverse health effects cannot fda.gov/newsevents/publichealthfocus/ be dismissed. National Toxicology Program: ucm064437.htm for more information. http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov

1 Calafat AM,Weuve J,Ye X, Jia LT, Hu H, Ringer S, et al. 2009. Exposure to bisphenol A and other in neonatal intensive care unit premature infants. Environmental Health Perspectives 117(4):639-644. 2 Biedermann S,Tschudin P, and Grob K. 2010.Transfer of bisphenol A from thermal printer paper to the skin. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry. Epub ahead of print. DOI 10.1007/s00216-010-3936-9.