Plastic in our Food: A Look into BPA Maureen Donah 2013 Dietetic Intern February 13 th 2013

1. Plastic in our Food: A Look into BPA Maureen Donah 2013 Dietetic Intern February 13th 2013

2. Objectives What is BPA? Timeline Products Concerns Prevalence Research Government Involvement Labeling Recycling Plastics What to do?

3. Bisphenol A Erler C., Novak J., Bisphenol A Exposure: Human Risk and Health Policy. Journal of Pediatric Nursing. 2010;25:400-407 • 1930s- BPA was discovered to be artificial estrogen • At that time it was used two ways: 1. Estrogen replacement for women 2. To enhance the growth of cattle and poultry

4. BPA Timeline 1891 Invented 2008 NTP releases “risks” 1930s Discovered that BPA was a synthetic estrogen 2006 NTP deems it “safe” 2008 Playtex and Nalgene remove from products 1998 Research begins 1960s Used in plastics and metals 2008 NRDC files petition asking FDA to ban BPA Kissinger, M. Key Dates for BPA. Journal Sentinel Online. 2012

5. 1960s- BPA began to be used as an industrial chemical which has been present in plastic and metal based food and beverage containers since. • It is primarily used for the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. Bisphenol A Bisphenol A (BPA). National Toxicology Program. http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/docs/bpa-factsheet.pdf. Accessed Feb. 2, 2013.

6. What products have BPA? • Printer ink • Dental fillings • Cosmetics/Make-up • Name brand clothing • Paper currency • Store receipts • Toys • Eyeglasses • Water Plastic bottles Food cans Soda cans Baby bottles Baby formula cans Plastic food containers

7. Why is BPA a concern? Erler C., Novak J., Bisphenol A Exposure: Human Risk and Health Policy. Journal of Pediatric Nursing. 2010;25:400-407 Endocrine disruptor Mimics estrogen Promotes early age of puberty in females Effects mammary glands and prostate gland Increased growth rate Effects on the brain Behavioral issues in infants and children

8. Prevalence of BPA Erler C., Novak J., Bisphenol A Exposure: Human Risk and Health Policy. Journal of Pediatric Nursing. 2010;25:400-407 In humans, BPA can be tested either through the blood or urine According to the NHANES III study 92.6% of the participants, 6 years of age and older, had BPA in their urine. Ranging from 0.4-149 mcg/L

9. Or is it even a concern? Erler C., Novak J., Bisphenol A Exposure: Human Risk and Health Policy. Journal of Pediatric Nursing. 2010;25:400-407 Bayer, Dow Chemical Company, General Electric Plastics, and Sunono all deem BPA completely “safe”. These are companies that produce 7 billion pounds of BPA annually, which worldwide generates $1 million per day in revenue for these corporations. The American Chemistry Council, an association that represents plastics manufacturers, argues that BPA poses no risk to human health.

10. BPA Research

11. Canned Soup Consumption and Urinary Bisphenol A: A Randomized Crossover Trial Carwile JL, Ye X, Zhou X, Calafat AM, Michels KB. Canned Soup Consumption and Urinary Bisphenol A. JAMA. 2011;306(20):2218-2220 Hypothesis: canned soup consumption would increase urinary BPA concentrations relative to fresh soup consumption. 75 volunteers completed the study (mean age 27) BPA was detected in 77% of samples after fresh soup consumption and 100% of samples after canned soup consumption

12. “BPA was detected in 46 of 50, or 92% of the canned food samples. The highest level of BPA- 1,140 part per billion (ppb), to our knowledge the highest level ever found in the U.S.- was detected in DelMonte French Style Green Beans…” No Silver Lining: An Investigation into Bisphenol A in Canned Foods. National Workgroup for safe Markets. May 2010.

13. Food Packaging and Bisphenol A: Findings from Dietary Intervention Rudel RA, Gray JM, Engel CL, RawsthorneTW, Dodson RE, Ackerman JM, Rizzo J, Nudelman JL, Brody JG. Food Packaging and Bisphenol A: Findings from a Dietary Intervention. Environmental Health Prospective.2011;119(7):914-920. To evaluate the contribution of food packaging exposure, urinary BPA was measured before, during, and after a “fresh foods” dietary intervention Urine levels of BPA decreased significantly during fresh foods intervention 3.7 ng/mL pre-intervention vs. 1.2 ng/mL during intervention

14. Impact of Early-Life Bisphenol A Exposure on Behavior an Executive Function in Children Braun JM, Kalkbrenner AE, Calafat AM, Yolton K, Ye X, Dietrich KN, Lanphear BP. Impact of Early-Life Bisphenol A Exposure on Behavior an Executive Function in Children. Pediatrics. 2011;128(5)873-882. To estimate the impact of gestational and childhood BPA exposures on behavior and executive functions at 3 years of age Results showed that gestational BPA exposure might be associated with anxious, depressive, and hyperactive behaviors This was more pronounced for girls, which suggests that they might be more vulnerable to gestational BPA exposure than boys

15. Current BPA Timeline 2010 FDA expresses “some concern” 2010 NRDC sues the FDA for failing to act on petition 2012 Campbell’s will phase out use in cans 2011 EU outlaws polycarbonate in baby bottles 2012 FDA denies petition by NRDC Kissinger, M. Key Dates for BPA. Journal Sentinel Online. 2012

16. Government Involvement http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodIngredientsPackaging/ucm166145.htm#petition Response to Petition on BPA • On October 28, 2008, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) submitted a citizen petition regarding BPA. The petition requested that the Commissioner of Food and Drugs: • Issue a regulation prohibiting the use of BPA in human food and packaging, and • Revoke all regulations permitting the use of any food additive that may result in BPA becoming a component of food. • On March 30, 2012, the FDA denied this request in accordance with 21 CFR 10.30(e)(3). In its response, the FDA stated that: • The information provided in the citizen petition was not sufficient to persuade FDA to initiate this rulemaking. • The most appropriate course of action at this time is to continue scientific study and review of all new evidence regarding the safety of BPA. • Although FDA was not persuaded by the data and information in the NRDC citizen petition to initiate rulemaking to revoke the food additive approvals for BPA, FDA will continue in its broader and more comprehensive review of emerging data and information on BPA. Depending on the results, any of these studies or data could influence FDA’s assessment and future regulatory decisions about BPA

17. Labeling

18. Recycling Plastics The Society of the Plastics Industry, 1988

19. Polyethylene Terephthalate Earth911.org, Institute of Agriculture and Trade Policy, WHO International Program on Chemical Safety, US EPA Found in: Soft drink, water, and mouthwash bottles, peanut butter containers, salad dressing and vegetable oil containers, and microwave food trays.

20. High Density Polyethylene Earth911.org, Institute of Agriculture and Trade Policy, WHO International Program on Chemical Safety, US EPA Found in: Milk jugs, juice bottles, bleach, detergent and household cleaner bottles, shampoo bottles, some trash and shopping bag, motor oil bottles, butter and yogurt tubs, cereal box liners.

21. Vinyl or Polyvinyl Chloride Earth911.org, Institute of Agriculture and Trade Policy, WHO International Program on Chemical Safety, US EPA Found in: Window cleaner and detergent bottles, shampoo bottles, cooking oil bottles, clear food packaging, wire jacketing, medical equipment, siding, windows, and piping.

22. Low Density Polyethylene Earth911.org, Institute of Agriculture and Trade Policy, WHO International Program on Chemical Safety, US EPA Found in: Squeezable bottles, bread, frozen food, dry cleaning and shopping bags, clothing, furniture, and carpet

23. Polypropylene Earth911.org, Institute of Agriculture and Trade Policy, WHO International Program on Chemical Safety, US EPA Found in: Some yogurt containers, syrup bottles, ketchup bottles, caps, straws, medicine bottles

24. Polystyrene Earth911.org, Institute of Agriculture and Trade Policy, WHO International Program on Chemical Safety, US EPA Found in: Disposable plates and cups, meat trays, egg cartons, carry-out containers, aspirin bottles, compact disc cases

25. Other/Miscellaneous Earth911.org, Institute of Agriculture and Trade Policy, WHO International Program on Chemical Safety, US EPA Found in:Three and five-gallon water bottles, 'bullet-proof' materials, sunglasses, DVDs, iPod and computer cases, signs and displays, and certain food containers.

26. Labeled Plastics “With your food use 4, 5, 1, and 2… All the rest aren’t good for you!” Smart Plastics Guide: Healthier Food Uses of Plastics. Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy. October 2005.

27. What to do? Choose BPA free products Avoid plastics labeled #3, 6, and 7 Use glass containers as often as possible Avoid using plastic containers in the microwave Do not wash polycarbonate plastics in the dishwasher Stick to fresh foods as much as possible Avoid metal canned goods

28. References Bisphenol A (BPA). National Toxicology Program. http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/docs/bpa-factsheet.pdf. Accessed Feb. 2, 2013. Braun JM, Kalkbrenner AE, Calafat AM, Yolton K, Ye X, Dietrich KN, Lanphear BP. Impact of Early-Life Bisphenol A Exposure on Behavior an Executive Function in Children. Pediatrics. 2011;128(5)873-882. Carwile JL, Ye X, Zhou X, Calafat AM, Michels KB. Canned Soup Consumption and Urinary Bisphenol A. JAMA. 2011;306(20):2218-2220. Earth911.org, Institute of Agriculture and Trade Policy, WHO International Program on Chemical Safety, US EPA Erler C., Novak J., Bisphenol A Exposure: Human Risk and Health Policy. Journal of Pediatric Nursing. 2010;25:400-407 Kissinger, M. Key Dates for BPA. Journal Sentinel Online. 2012 No Silver Lining: An Investigation into Bisphenol A in Canned Foods. National Workgroup for safe Markets. May 2010. Rudel RA, Gray JM, Engel CL, Rawsthorne TW, Dodson RE, Ackerman JM, Rizzo J, NudelmanJL, Brody JG. Food Packaging and Bisphenol A: Findings from a Dietary Intervention. Environmental Health Prospective. 2011;119(7):914-920.

29. Thank You!