BPA exposure may be higher than safe dose

COLUMBIA, Mo., June 11 (UPI) -- A study of monkeys found exposure to the chemical bisphenol A may be much higher than the recommended safe daily dose, U.S. researchers said.

BPA is found in polycarbonate plastic food and beverage containers, such as water and infant bottles, as well as in the epoxy resin lining of cans and other sources. The chemical can leach into food and beverages, the National Institutes of Health found.

"BPA is now known to be a potent estrogen," study co-author Frederick vom Saal of the University of Missouri-Columbia said in a statement. "Human and animal studies indicate it could be related to diabetes, heart disease, liver abnormalities, miscarriage and other reproductive abnormalities, as well as prostate and breast cancer."

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said BPA is safe based on estimates that people consume only small amounts each day from food. However, recent research indicated U.S. adults are exposed to more BPA from multiple sources than previously thought, vom Saal said.

"Between 8 (billion) and 9 billion pounds of BPA are used in products every year," vom Saal said.

The results suggest the average person is likely exposed to a daily dose of BPA that far exceeds the current estimated safe daily intake dose.

The findings were presented at The Endocrine Society's 91st annual meeting in Washington.