The European Environment Agency (EEA) has published a report condemning the risks of compounds such as: bisphenol A and others like it poisonous substances mainly found in food contact materials; food and beverage cans.
AEA Executive Director Leena Ylä-Mononen called “More measures are being taken at EU level “limiting exposure to chemicals that pose a risk to the health of Europeans” because Current regulation did not serve to prevent “exposure to the population.” [al bisfenol A] still too highhigher than levels considered safe.”
Regarding Bisphenol A, the European Environment Agency describes this substance as “It poses a much greater risk to our health than previously thought Previously based on reports from the European Human Biomonitoring Initiative (HBM4EU) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
Bisphenol A poses a much greater health risk than previously thought
According to the EEA, “the results of these studies should be taken seriously” and warned: “There is an existing health concern due to dietary exposure to BPA, particularly from canned foods.”This turned out to be the most important source of exposure for all age groups.
BPA levels “alarmingly high” in Europeans
The European Human Biomonitoring Initiative (HBM4EU), on which the EEA is based, is the largest study ever undertaken to detect contaminants in the bodies of Europeans. In this report, the presence in blood and/or urine of 18 of the most problematic groups of chemicals was analyzed in a population-representative sample of more than 13,000 individuals from 28 European countries and It concluded that Europeans were exposed to “alarmingly high” levels of these toxins. He stated that this poses a great risk to health.
Exposure to Bisphenol A, even at very low concentrationsIt has been associated with negative effects on the immune system, as well as neurodevelopment, low birth weight, infertility, obesity and metabolic diseases, cancer risk due to hormones or cardiovascular diseases, and others.
Recently, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) agreed to reduce human exposure limits by at least 20,000 times to bisphenol A, which he thought was safe.
According to the European Environmental Bureau, substances that should be restricted include not only bisphenols (a large group of more than 200 substances, at least 37 of which have been shown to have hormone-disrupting properties, so they can cause adverse effects in the body). very low concentrations), but also others such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and additives; PFAS for nonessential uses (more than 4,700 different compounds, including compounds associated with a variety of health problems); flame retardants (between 50 and 100 items); toxic substances in child care products (approximately 1,775 substances); and toxins in diapers (dozens of substances).
Chemical industry pressures
Home Without Toxics, a Spanish organization fighting for the elimination of these compounds that are harmful to health, drew attention to the pressures exerted by companies devoted to the production of these compounds. “Unfortunately, contrary to what the European Environment Agency wants, Pressure from the chemical industry has led the European Commission to delay and possibly fail necessary and promised reformAccording to Carlos de Prada, director of Hogar sin Tóxicos, according to the regulations on chemical products called the REACH Regulation.
“Pressure from the chemical industry has led the European Commission to delay and possibly fail to deliver necessary and promised reform of chemical product regulations.”
This reform to existing regulations “must be urgent and better secure the health of citizens against bisphenols and many other toxic substances.
According to Non-Toxic Home and EEB, There are serious shortcomings in current European legislation If these are not corrected, they will continue to cause situations caused by many toxic substances such as bisphenol A and the famous PFAS. One of these shortcomings is Leave the door open to so-called “sad substitution”. “What is happening is that industries are replacing this substance with other bisphenols that can cause similar harmful effects,” he says.
Swap some toxins for others
This “distressing substitution” means that the population, beyond appearing to be protected (if bisphenol A is effectively restricted), actually continues to be exposed to bisphenol A. the same or similar risks due to other similar substances. Food contact materials, such as food or beverage cans, which are currently the main means of human exposure to bisphenol A, may contain the presence of other harmful bisphenols such as bisphenol F or bisphenol S, among many others. others.
Reference report: https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/peoples-exposure-to-bisfenol-a/
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