The National Institutes of Health and the United States Environmental Protection Agency organized this review. This paper reviews the role of bisphenol A (BPA) in carcinogenesis in humans and animals. The study was about “endocrine disruptors.”

Breast and prostate cancers continue to increase in frequency. This could be due to the increasing amounts of chemicals which alter our hormonal balances (endocrine disruptors). BPA is believed to be one such chemical. BPA levels in humans range 0.2-20 ng/ml. In regard to the effects of estrogen “…natural levels of estrogens in every male and female have the ability to be carcinogenic.”

Mice and rats were given BPA in their regular diet. There were increased rates of hematological cancers in rats and male mice supplemented with BPA. The male rats had an increase in testicular interstitial cell tumors, fibroadenomas and benign mammary tumors.

In these studies, low doses of chemicals, as seen in the environment, must be carefully studied, as well as high doses. In some cases, chemicals which are beneficial in high doses can be harmful at low doses.

Some environmental agents act epigenetically. That means they alter the gene expression at a young age with negative effects, such as cancer at a later age. Developing organs, early in life, are more sensitive to “endocrine disruption.” Diethylstilbesterol (DES) increased breast cancer in adult women who were given it. DES increased the incidence of breast and vaginal cancer even more in women who had been exposed to it during fetal life and increased the incidence of testicular cancer in men exposed during fetal life.

A study sponsored by GE Plastics, Shell Chemical, etc, concluded that exposure to BPA did not increase cancer. However, they used a breed of rat which has reduced sensitivity to endocrine disruption. The use of such rats invalidated the study.

CONCLUSION: More studies on fetal exposure to Bisphenol A (BPA) are needed, according to the authors.

NOTE: In spite of the above, many scientists believe that there exists adequate evidence of the negative effects of Bisphenol A on our health to limit the use of it. Read about the presence of Bisphenol A and B in food packaging.

To read the author’s abstract of the article click on the link to the author’s title of the article above.

PMID: 17706921.

Summary #276.