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Bisphenol A: the confirmed risks for pregnant women and their babies
ANSES released on Tuesday April 9 the results of its study on the risks of bisphenol A on human health and confirms the deleterious consequences for the fetus of regular exposure of its mother.
ANSES has been interested in the issue for 3 years. Following its first report, a law was adopted in 2012 to reduce the use of bisphenol A. This new study confirms its first results and clarifies them.
The most sensitive periods of exposure occur in fetal, neonatal, puberty and aging (studies are to come for this last period). For a pregnant woman, the risk essentially relates to the contamination of her fetus. What are the consequences ? BPA causes “a risk of cellular modification of the mammary gland which can lead to tumor development. later ”explains the President of ANSES. In addition, effects have been observed on the brain, behavior, female reproductive system with risk of infertility, metabolism and obesity. When BPA was discovered in sales receipts in 2010, ANSES was reassuring. She is now reviewing her position, explaining that prolonged exposure is “a risky situation, particularly in a professional setting”. For this study, 50 receipts were analyzed. Only 2 did not contain bisphenol A or S. BPA does not accumulate in the body: it is persistent, continual exposure that causes contamination. ANSES therefore wants a biometrology study among pregnant cashiers to be carried out as quickly as possible, in order to verify its results and set the measures to be taken.
Contamination routes
Bisphenol A in baby bottles in 2010, then in sales receipts in 2012 … ANSES has, for the first time, detailed the actual exposure of the population to this toxic substance. Three paths have thus been recognized:
The food route is the main source of contamination. 1162 food samples and 336 water samples were analyzed. Tins are responsible for 50% of this food contamination. Indeed, their interior epoxy resin coating contains bisphenol A, which then migrates into food. 10 to 15% of seafood would also be a source of contamination and between 25 to 30% of food has contamination whose origin has not been identified. Regarding pregnant women, it is through the absorption of contaminated food (main source of exposure at 84%), that BPA crosses the placenta and reaches the fetus. Without the researchers being able to determine if the BPA remains in the amniotic fluid.
The cutaneous route : the organism is contaminated by the simple manipulation of objects containing bisphenol. BPA is used in the manufacture of polycarbonate (hard, transparent and recyclable plastic), in many utensils or for thermal printing (sales receipts, bank receipts). The cutaneous route is the most direct and the most dangerous. BPA enters the body directly, unlike the food route which, through digestion, has many filters. “Research with INRS will be carried out on this subject” specifies the director of ANSES, to better understand the effects of absorption through the skin. For pregnant women, frequently handling objects containing bisphenol A is a risky situation, since the toxic substance enters the body directly through the skin. Hence the specific concern about pregnant cashiers handling tickets containing Bisphenol on a daily basis.
The respiratory tract, by inhalation of contaminated particles and dust contained in the ambient air.
Alternatives to bisphenol
73 alternatives have been identified by the researchers “without any one being able to replace all the uses of bisphenol in a universal way”, specifies the director of ANSES. Researchers lack data to assess the long-term risks in humans exposed to these low-dose alternatives. This would require carrying out a study over a long period. However, considers ANSES, “we cannot wait for the result of this kind of study to act”.