bpa, baby bottles and prevention of cancer dr carl albrecht head of research 11 august 2010
TRANSCRIPT
BPA, Baby Bottles and prevention of cancer
Dr Carl AlbrechtHead of Research
11 August 2010
What is this all about?
Clash of ideas
What are the opposing ideas?
Pro-BPA
• BPA is a valuable chemical, used widely, and poses no health danger to mankind
Anti-BPA
• BPA is a dangerous chemical that should be banned, especially where it is a contamination threat to babies
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a man-made chemical
SmallSymmetricWhite powder
BPA binds to oestrogen receptor
BPA + Order = Chaos (Cancer)
Highly regulated process
Unregulated, haphazard process
BPA is an EDC
Endocrine
Disrupting
Compound
Happens at very low concentrations –ng/ml
DES was given to pregnant women rather than BPA (because it is more active)
BPA – Bisphenol A DES - Diethylstibesterol
DES was given to 7 million pregnant women for 40 years to prevent miscarriages before it was discovered that DES causes vaginal cancer in the daughters
Note how similar BPA and DES are.
Effect of a low dose of BPA on breast tissue
Control milk duct in mouse breast tissue
Mice treated with 25 ng BPA/kg body weight per day
25 ng is 1000-times lower than the FDA safety limit of 25 ug.
92% Americans have BPA in their blood.
BPA has been linked to:• Increased breast cancer risk• Increased prostate cancer risk• Early puberty• Diabetes• Brain dysfunction• Thyroid dysfunction• Heart disease• Infertility in males and females• Obesity
25 % of all cancers
Conclusion
Endocrine disrupting compounds such as DES and BPA (proven and possible
cancer threat respectively) must be avoided especially during pregnancy
and in 0-3 year old children
The danger of man-made endocrine disrupting compounds – “a spanner in the works”.
Endocrine Disrupting Compounds
LIVING SYSTEMS
Chaos …cancer
POLYCARBONATE ENTERS THE PICTURE
• Heat resistant• Impact resistant• Shatterproof• Clear• Easily worked• Easily moulded• Easily thermoformed
Discovered that BPA-carbonates when strung together form polycarbonate.
Anatomy of Polycarbonate
BPA carbonate
Polycarbonate
Free BPA - plasticiser
Other items where polycarbonate or BPA is used
The Penny Drops….there is BPA in the baby bottle!
The Baby Bottle seems so innocent!
World-wide rejection of BPA in Baby Bottles
• Canada• Denmark• France• Various US States
PC
Why are children (0-3 yrs) more susceptible to BPA?
1. Brains still developing
2. Lack enzymes to inactivate BPA
3. Eat ten-times more than adults per day per body weight than adults
Is the Baby Bottle the Tipping Point against man-made chemicalcarcinogens?
Summary
• CANSA has studied the pro- and anti-BPA scientific evidence over the past three years and is convinced that BPA, which is hormonally active, poses a threat to human health - specifically by increasing the risk of breast or prostate cancer
• In order to reduce this increased risk CANSA supports reasonable processes to significantly limit exposure to BPA - especially of pregnant women and our babies who are more vulnerable
• One such process is to replace polycarbonate baby bottles containing BPA with BPA-free bottles
No need to trash the world – trash BPA Baby Bottles
CANSA is a watchdog and the Smart Choice logo helps to educate the public.
Placing the CANSA Smart Choice logo on BPA-Free baby bottles makes good sense
Thank You