The study has found a ’significant relationship between urine concentrations of the environmental estrogen bisphenol A (BPA) and cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and liver-enzyme abnormalities’.
This is the first time BPA has been shown to directly cause harm to humans and until now, environmental and consumer activists questioning the safety of the chemical’s use have only had ammunition for their argument from research showing BPA exposure harmed laboratory animals.
The British researchers analysed urine and blood samples from 1,455 American adults aged 18 to 74 who were representative of the general population and they found that the 25% with the highest levels of bisphenol A in their bodies were more than twice as likely to have heart disease and, or diabetes compared to the 25% with the lowest levels.
The researchers say this is the first ever study that has been on the general population and their findings are in line with what has been found in animal models - but add that the design of the study did not allow for anyone to conclude BPA causes heart disease and diabetes."
The researchers will present their findings to the FDA this week say session it is too early to identify a mechanism through which the chemical may be doing harm.
The researchers also caution that their findings are preliminary and more work is needed to determine if the chemical actually is a direct cause of disease.
The researchers say BPA is one of the world’s most widely produced and used chemicals.
vom Saal says any government action to reduce exposure may offer an effective intervention for improving health and reducing the burden of some of the most consequential human health problems and would be good news.
The research is published in the current issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
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