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Bisphenol A: contested science, divergent safety evaluations
Bisphenol A: contested science, divergent safety evaluations
Autor:innen
Soto, Ana M.
Herausgeber
Quelle
Late lessons from early warnings
(2013), Seite 247-271
(2013), Seite 247-271
Schlagwörter
Zitation
GIES, Andreas und Ana M. SOTO, 2013. Bisphenol A: contested science, divergent safety evaluations. In: Late lessons from early warnings [online]. Verfügbar unter: https://openumwelt.de/handle/123456789/9338
Zusammenfassung englisch
Bisphenol A (BPA) is currently one of the world's best-selling chemicals and primarily used
to make polycarbonate plastics. It is widely used in common products such as baby bottles,
household electronics, medical devices and coatings on food containers. BPA is known to mimic
the female hormone oestrogen and has been found to leach from the materials where it is used.
Studies have suggested that even exposure to low doses of BPA may cause endocrine
disrupting effects. As with other hormones, it appears that an organism is most sensitive during
development but that effects are often not observed until much later in the lifecycle. This means
that at the time when the effects become detectable, the chemical exposure has vanished. This
makes it extremely difficult to link exposure to effects in humans.
This chapter maps some of the findings in studies of rodents and humans. It also discusses
the challenges of evaluating scientific findings in a field where industry-sponsored studies and
independent scientific research seem to deviate strongly. The authors offer suggestions for ways
to uncouple financial interests from scientific research and testing.
A widely used and dispersed industrial chemical like Bisphenol A is a controversial example of
an endocrine disrupting substance that has implications for policymakers. Different approaches
to risk assessment for BPA by US and European authorities are presented. It throws light on the
ways in which similar evidence is evaluated differently in different risk assessments and presents
challenges for applying the precautionary principle.
The intense discussion and scientific work on BPA have slowly contributed to a process of
improving test strategies. While traditional toxicology has relied on a monotonic increasing doseresponse
relationship as evidence that the effect is caused by the test agent, studies on BPA and
other endocrine disruptor chemicals (EDCs) have demonstrated the limitations of this approach
and adjustments have been made in some cases.
It has also been widely accepted that effects cannot be predicted by simply thinking of BPA
as a weak oestrogen and extrapolating from what is observed for more potent endogenous
oestrogens. This lesson is particularly evident in the intense pharmaceutical interest in selective
oestrogen response modifiers (SERMs).
The chapter is followed by a panel analysing the value of animal testing for identifyingcarcinogens
Quelle: Late lessons from early warnings: science, precaution, innovation / Part A - Lessons
from health hazards/ Chapter 10
to make polycarbonate plastics. It is widely used in common products such as baby bottles,
household electronics, medical devices and coatings on food containers. BPA is known to mimic
the female hormone oestrogen and has been found to leach from the materials where it is used.
Studies have suggested that even exposure to low doses of BPA may cause endocrine
disrupting effects. As with other hormones, it appears that an organism is most sensitive during
development but that effects are often not observed until much later in the lifecycle. This means
that at the time when the effects become detectable, the chemical exposure has vanished. This
makes it extremely difficult to link exposure to effects in humans.
This chapter maps some of the findings in studies of rodents and humans. It also discusses
the challenges of evaluating scientific findings in a field where industry-sponsored studies and
independent scientific research seem to deviate strongly. The authors offer suggestions for ways
to uncouple financial interests from scientific research and testing.
A widely used and dispersed industrial chemical like Bisphenol A is a controversial example of
an endocrine disrupting substance that has implications for policymakers. Different approaches
to risk assessment for BPA by US and European authorities are presented. It throws light on the
ways in which similar evidence is evaluated differently in different risk assessments and presents
challenges for applying the precautionary principle.
The intense discussion and scientific work on BPA have slowly contributed to a process of
improving test strategies. While traditional toxicology has relied on a monotonic increasing doseresponse
relationship as evidence that the effect is caused by the test agent, studies on BPA and
other endocrine disruptor chemicals (EDCs) have demonstrated the limitations of this approach
and adjustments have been made in some cases.
It has also been widely accepted that effects cannot be predicted by simply thinking of BPA
as a weak oestrogen and extrapolating from what is observed for more potent endogenous
oestrogens. This lesson is particularly evident in the intense pharmaceutical interest in selective
oestrogen response modifiers (SERMs).
The chapter is followed by a panel analysing the value of animal testing for identifyingcarcinogens
Quelle: Late lessons from early warnings: science, precaution, innovation / Part A - Lessons
from health hazards/ Chapter 10