June 10 - The substance Bisphenol A is frequently mentioned in media reports on hazardous chemicals. Over and over reports about Bisphenol A in the environment and in our bodies makes people feel insecure. What kind of substance is it, where can Bisphenol A be found and what is the risk for human health and environment?
The Federal Environment Agency (UBA) comments on the health risks of Bisphenol A and informs about actions that can be taken to reduce the risk. To protect human health and environment Jochen Flasbarth, president of UBA, recommends producers as well as users of this substance to use alternative substances already at this state of knowledge for reasons of precaution.
Bisphenol A can be found in many goods of daily life: cans, DVDs, thermal paper, food grade packaging and baby bottles. From these products Bisphenol A can leach and thus can be taken up by humans. Production, processing and recycling can pollute rivers and lakes with Bisphenol A. The precursor for the production of polycarbonates and epoxy resins is with a production volume of 3.8 million tons each year among the chemical with the highest production volume worldwide.
Bisphenol A acts like the female hormone oestrogen. Although it is in many cases less potent than oestrogen, animal and human studies suggest that it may be associated with reproductive disorders.
According to the risk assessments of the European Existing Chemicals Programme and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) this substance is safe for consumers. In contrast, Canada, Denmark and France have banned baby bottles or other products for children containing Bisphenol A for precautionary reasons. Jochen Flasbarth for UBA:”There’s is still a lack of data but what is already known about Bisphenol A should be sufficient to take decisions on the application of the precautionary principle and limit the use of special products containing Bisphenol A.”
The European regulation on chemicals REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals) strengthen the responsibility of the chemical industry. Industries which produce or use Bisphenol A are responsible to assess the risks of Bisphenol A for human health and the environment over the whole life cycle and to reduce potential risks. The results of these risk assessments have to be presented to the European authorities in a dossier for registration by 30 November 2010. The Federal Environment Agency will scrutinize this dossier and then take decisions on which additional efficient measures for the protection of human health and Environment are possible and necessary.
The Agency advises manufacturers, importers and users of bisphenol A to use alternative substances that pose less risk to human health and the environment in all areas of use that significantly contribute to exposure. This way, an important contribution can be made to product responsibility in the case of a substance for which precautionary protection of humans and the environment is advisable.