Bottle-fed Infants most at risk from BPA

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ZURICH, Switzerland, March 8 (UPI) -- A study by Swiss scientists shows infants have the highest estimated levels of bisphenol A, with exposure decreasing as they grow older.

The researchers from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich focused on exposure pathways for the chemical used in plastic containers and the linings of cans. While estimated infant BPA levels are well below the maximum limits set by European authorities, the scientists said their findings are important in that BPA is thought to impact human development and is classified as an endocrine disrupting chemical.

The study focused on 17 different sources of potential exposure across nine age/gender groups in the German/Swiss/Austrian population. The researchers found the most potentially exposed group is bottle-fed infants that had estimated mean dose rates of nearly 0.8 micrograms per kilogram body weight per day.

Although that level is well below the European limit of 50 micrograms daily, the study found the level is of the same order of magnitude as recently reported concentrations that caused low-dose health effects in rodents.

"In general humans in their developmental stages (fetus, infant, child) seem to be exposed more severely than adults," said Natalie von Goetz, senior scientist at the institute.

The research that included Matthias Wormuth, Martin Scheringer, and Konrad Hungerbuehler appears in the journal Risk Analysis.