Industrial chemical BPA, used in plastic water bottles and food containers, has been linked to hormone disruption and increased diabetes risk. A study presented at the 2024 Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association suggests BPA reduces sensitivity to insulin, potentially increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes. Researchers call for reconsideration of current safe BPA exposure limits by the EPA, as current standards may be outdated.
BPA, short for bisphenol A, is widely used in food and drink packaging. Previous concerns have highlighted its potential to disrupt human hormones. The new study provides direct evidence linking BPA to decreased insulin sensitivity. Insulin resistance, which can lead to chronically high blood sugar, is a key risk factor for type 2 diabetes.
“These results suggest that maybe the US EPA safe dose should be reconsidered and that healthcare providers could suggest these changes to patients,” said Todd Hagobian, senior author of the study and professor at California Polytechnic State University, in a press release.
Currently, the FDA considers BPA safe at levels up to 5 mg per kg body weight per day in food containers. This is 100 times the amount found risky by the new study, prompting some researchers to advocate for a ban on BPA in products contacting food or beverages by the end of 2024.
The concern over BPA is part of a broader alert about exposure to potentially harmful substances in everyday items. Understanding such substances’ long-term health impacts can guide better choices to reduce chronic disease risks, such as type 2 diabetes.
“Given that diabetes is a leading cause of death in the US, it is crucial to understand even the smallest factors that contribute to the disease,” Hagobian said in the press release.
Previously, an earlier version of this article misstated the difference between what the EPA considers safe BPA exposure and what the study found risky. The correct difference is 100 times higher, not 1000.
Researchers were surprised by findings that reducing BPA exposure, such as using stainless steel or glass bottles and BPA-free cans, might lower diabetes risk.
This new study emphasizes the need for regulatory bodies to reassess BPA exposure limits and for individuals to consider alternative products to mitigate potential health risks.
BPA, short for bisphenol A, is widely used in food and drink packaging. Previous concerns have highlighted its potential to disrupt human hormones. The new study provides direct evidence linking BPA to decreased insulin sensitivity. Insulin resistance, which can lead to chronically high blood sugar, is a key risk factor for type 2 diabetes.
“These results suggest that maybe the US EPA safe dose should be reconsidered and that healthcare providers could suggest these changes to patients,” said Todd Hagobian, senior author of the study and professor at California Polytechnic State University, in a press release.
Currently, the FDA considers BPA safe at levels up to 5 mg per kg body weight per day in food containers. This is 100 times the amount found risky by the new study, prompting some researchers to advocate for a ban on BPA in products contacting food or beverages by the end of 2024.
The concern over BPA is part of a broader alert about exposure to potentially harmful substances in everyday items. Understanding such substances’ long-term health impacts can guide better choices to reduce chronic disease risks, such as type 2 diabetes.
“Given that diabetes is a leading cause of death in the US, it is crucial to understand even the smallest factors that contribute to the disease,” Hagobian said in the press release.
Previously, an earlier version of this article misstated the difference between what the EPA considers safe BPA exposure and what the study found risky. The correct difference is 100 times higher, not 1000.
Researchers were surprised by findings that reducing BPA exposure, such as using stainless steel or glass bottles and BPA-free cans, might lower diabetes risk.
This new study emphasizes the need for regulatory bodies to reassess BPA exposure limits and for individuals to consider alternative products to mitigate potential health risks.
