The European Environment Agency (EEA) has published a report warning about risks from compounds such as bisphenol A and other similar substances found in food contact materials and food and beverage cans.
Executive Director Leena Ylä-Mononen noted that more measures are being taken at the EU level to limit exposure to chemicals that may threaten health. She emphasized that current regulation did not prevent population exposure, and that levels of bisphenol A remain high enough to raise concern.
Regarding bisphenol A, the EEA describes this substance as presenting a health risk greater than earlier estimates. This assessment aligns with findings from the European Human Biomonitoring Initiative (HBM4EU) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
Bisphenol A poses a greater health risk than previously thought
The EEA notes that the results of recent studies should be taken seriously and warns of a health concern due to dietary exposure to BPA, especially from canned foods, identified as a major exposure route across age groups.
Levels of BPA considered alarmingly high in Europe
The HBM4EU program, which underpins the EEA work, represents the largest study of its kind to measure contaminants in European bodies. In a population-representative sample of more than 13,000 people across 28 countries, 18 of the most problematic chemical groups were analyzed in blood and urine. The study concluded that exposure to these toxins was alarmingly high and posed substantial health risks.
There is concern about potential damage to the human body from bisphenol A, with observed associations to immune system impacts, neurodevelopment, low birth weight, infertility, obesity, metabolic diseases, and increased risk of hormone-related cancers and cardiovascular issues.
EFSA recently moved to tighten exposure limits, proposing reductions by at least twenty thousand times for bisphenol A to reflect more protective assessments. This shift underscores the seriousness of BPA-related health concerns.
European environmental and health groups highlight the broader list of substances that merit tighter restrictions. These include a large family of bisphenols—over 200 variants—with at least 37 showing hormone-disrupting properties. Other categories flagged for attention include polyvinyl chloride, various PFAS, flame retardants, and a broad array of chemicals used in childcare products and diapers.
Pressure from industry and calls for reform
Advocacy groups such as Home Without Toxics have highlighted industry pressure that can delay reforms in chemical product regulations. According to Carlos de Prada, director of Home Without Toxics, this pressure may slow needed reforms under the REACH framework. The call is for urgent action to strengthen protections against bisphenols and other toxic substances.
Industry pressure cited as delaying reform
There is a shared view from environmental groups that current European legislation contains serious gaps. If not addressed, these gaps could allow continued exposure to toxic substances such as bisphenol A and related compounds. One concern is substitution with other bisphenols that could produce similar health effects, a phenomenon some describe as a dangerous trend in substitution rather than true safety improvements.
Replacing one toxin with another
This phenomenon means that even when bisphenol A is restricted, people may remain exposed to similar risks from other bisphenols such as bisphenol F or bisphenol S among many others. Food contact materials and cans remain a principal exposure route, and ongoing vigilance is needed to ensure safer alternatives are genuinely protective.
Reference note: EEA publication on peoples exposure to bisphenol A is available in their public materials, which summarize the findings and implications for policy and consumer safety. [EEA report attribution]
—
Public health authorities emphasize ongoing monitoring and transparent reporting to ensure that regulatory measures reflect the latest science and reduce exposure in everyday products.