Carrefour eliminates bisphenol A in their receipts

Bisphenol A and sales receipts: Carrefour’s turn!

Paris, January 25, 2011:

“Le Réseau Environnement Santé – RES” (the French “Environment Health Network”) welcomes the decision of the French Carrefour superstores to replace their bisphenol A-based sales receipts.

According to an exclusive release of the website, it is now up to the 1600 branches of Carrefour to eliminate bisphenol A in their receipts. Carrefour is aligning itself with the recent decision of “Système U” with a deadline also set in February. In doing so, the two retail groups are in advance of lawmakers in the prevention of occupational hazards and the application of the precautionary principle. “RES is pleased with this action, which we hope will spread to the entire retail sector. This is a measure that the State should embrace in order to eliminate once and for all this source of population exposure to BPA “, said Yannick Vicaire.

More generally, RES reiterates its invitation to the relevant sectors of retail distribution and food production to replace BPA in all items likely to be involved in the daily intake of this endocrine disruptor. In doing so, RES appeals to all the economic actors to obtain information on their practices and public policies vis-à-vis Bisphenol A and to allow consumers to make informed choices.

References:

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28. January 2011 | Healthy living, Hormone Disrupting Chemicals, Prevention | Comments (0)

Study suggests that being too clean can make people sick

Young people who are overexposed to antibacterial soaps containing triclosan may suffer more allergies, and exposure to higher levels of Bisphenol A among adults may negatively influence the immune system, a new University of Michigan School of Public Health study suggests.

Triclosan is a chemical compound widely used in products such as antibacterial soaps, toothpaste, pens, diaper bags and medical devices. Bisphenol A (BPA) is found in many plastics and, for example, as a protective lining in food cans. Both of these chemicals are in a class of environmental toxicants called endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs), which are believed to negatively impact human health by mimicking or affecting hormones.

Using data from the 2003-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, U-M researchers compared urinary BPA and triclosan with cytomegalovirus (CMV) antibody levels and diagnosis of allergies or hay fever in a sample of U.S. adults and children over age 6. Allergy and hay fever diagnosis and CMV antibodies were used as two separate markers of immune alterations.

“We found that people over age 18 with higher levels of BPA exposure had higher CMV antibody levels, which suggests their cell-mediated immune system may not be functioning properly,” said Erin Rees Clayton, research investigator at the U-M School of Public Health and first author on the paper.

Researchers also found that people age 18 and under with higher levels of triclosan were more likely to report diagnosis of allergies and hay fever.

There is growing concern among the scientific community and consumer groups that these EDCs are dangerous to humans at lower levels than previously thought.

“The triclosan findings in the younger age groups may support the ‘hygiene hypothesis,’ which maintains living in very clean and hygienic environments may impact our exposure to micro-organisms that are beneficial for development of the immune system,” said Allison Aiello, associate professor at the U-M School of Public Health and principal investigator on the study.

As an antimicrobial agent found in many household products, triclosan may play a role in changing the micro-organisms to which we are exposed in such a way that our immune system development in childhood is affected.

“It is possible that a person can be too clean for their own good,” said Aiello, who is also a visiting associate professor of epidemiology at Harvard.

Previous animal studies indicate that BPA and triclosan may affect the immune system, but this is the first known study to look at exposure to BPA and triclosan as it relates to human immune function, Aiello said.

One surprise finding is that with BPA exposure, age seems to matter, said Rees Clayton. In people 18 or older, higher amounts of BPA were associated with higher CMV levels, but in people younger than 18 the reverse was true.

“This suggests the timing of the exposure to BPA and perhaps the quantity and length of time we are exposed to BPA may be affecting the immune system response,” Rees Clayton said.

This is just the first step, she said, but a very important one. Going forward, researchers would like to study the long-term effects of BPA and triclosan in people to see if they can establish a causal relationship.

One limitation of the study is that it measured disease and exposure simultaneously and thus shows only part of the picture, Aiello said.

“It is possible, for example, that individuals who have an allergy are more hygienic because of their condition, and that the relationship we observed is, therefore, not causal or is an example of reverse causation,” Aiello said.

Reference:

University of Michigan, Study suggests that being too clean can make people sick, 29, Nov. 2010

The paper, “The Impact of Bisphenol A and Triclosan on Immune Parameters in the U.S. Population,” appears online in Environmental Health Perspectives Nov. 30.

See podcast explaining more about Bisphenol A and triclosan (live Nov. 29)

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30. November 2010 | Allergies, Chemical Exposure, Clinical Diagnostics, Diagnosis Chemical Injury, Hormone Disrupting Chemicals, Prevention, Toxicology | Comments (0)

European Commission confirms intentions on BPA

Brussels, 22 November 2010 – The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) welcomes a news report that the European Commission has launched discussions on a ban on Bisphenol A in baby bottles.

In an exclusive report in Food Quality News, European Commission is quoted as saying that it wants to introduce a region-wide ban on the use of Bisphenol A (BPA) in baby bottles. (1)

“If this is true, it is a step in the right direction,” says Lisette van Vliet, Toxics Policy Advisor at HEAL. “But this only relates to baby bottles. The ban should be for ALL food packaging for infants under 3 years old – and it should quickly be extended to all food packaging because, if babies during pregnancy are to be protected, consumption by women of child-bearing age should be avoided.”

HEAL was disappointed earlier this month by the outcome of the World Health Organization expert meeting in Ottawa, Canada, 1-5 November 2010 on Bisphenol A. The WHO opinion was that it would be premature to take any action on Bisphenol A on public health grounds. (2)

HEAL board member, André Cicollela, Réseau Environnement Santé (RES) said: “The conclusion is very surprising because it gives the impression that the scientific evidence is not available. This is far from the reality: almost 500 peer-reviewed studies have been published.” (3)

Many of the studies show increased risks for a plethora of health effects from breast and prostate cancer, diabetes and obesity, behavioural and reproductive problems, at doses well below the current ‘tolerable daily intakes’ advised by the US EPA and the European Food Safety Authority. The WHO reasoning is based on a dismissal of the importance of peoples’ daily and continual exposure to this chemical. Moreover, more than 80 studies show that the levels of internal contamination in people are equivalent to levels that produce the mentioned health effects in animal studies. (3)

In September, the European food panel failed to protect EU citizen’s health from plastic component, BPA. (4)

Prior to that HEAL was a signatory to a joint letter sent to EFSA from scientists and organisations across the globe expressed concerns and concluded that. Based on the available scientific studies, reducing levels of human exposure to BPA was necessary.

Contacts:

Lisette van Vliet– Toxics Policy Advisor, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL):

+32 (0)2 234 3643, mobile: 32 (0)484 614 528, lisette@env-health.org

Diana Smith, Press and Communications, Health and Environment Alliance, Mobile: +33 6 33 2943, Diana@env-health.org

Reference: HEAL,  Press Release, Commission confirms intentions on BPA, November 22, 2010

Literature:

  1. European Commission wants ban on bisphenol A in baby bottles
  2. World Health Organization documentation: Joint FAO/WHO meeting, 1-5 November 2010, Food is a major source of exposure to bisphenol A, 9 November 2010
  3. Press release (in French) on WHO opinion and European Commission position
  4. Press release and letter available at Chemicals Health Monitor

22. November 2010 | Chemical Exposure, Healthy living, Hormone Disrupting Chemicals, Neurodevelopment, Prevention | Comments (0)

Industry puts a higher priority on selling chemicals than on the health of infants

Feinstein Statement on Obstruction of Efforts to Reach Compromise Agreement on Use of BPA in Baby Products

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.)  issued the following statement on blocked efforts to offer a compromise amendment to phase out the use of bisphenol A (BPA) in baby bottles and sippy cups.

Following is Senator Feinstein’s statement:

“Unfortunately, the compromise agreement on a BPA amendment to the food safety bill has been blocked. Last evening, an agreement between myself and Senator Enzi was reached, which would have:

  • Banned the use of BPA in baby bottles and sippy cups (largely because infants and children are the most vulnerable to the harmful effects of BPA),
  • Required the FDA to issue a revised safety assessment on BPA by December 1, 2012; and
  • Included a savings clause to allow states to enact their own legislation.

I thank Ranking Member Enzi for his agreement. Unfortunately it has become clear that the American Chemistry Council (ACC) has blocked and obstructed the agreement from being added to the Food Safety Bill currently on the floor. Therefore, I cannot carry out the agreement that was reached.

I regret that the ACC puts the sale of chemicals above the safety of infants and children.

This was a small step forward – a simple move to ban BPA in baby bottles and sippy cups. A simple move to protect children. All it did was ban BPA in baby bottles and sippy cups until the FDA safety assessment count be revised.

There is no benefit from having this harmful chemical in baby bottles and sippy cups for infants. I will not cease in my efforts to remove BPA from products where it can harm human health, and I urge consumers to vote with their pocketbooks by refusing to purchase products that contain BPA. This is especially important when it comes to buying products that will be used by infants or children.

However, I am pleased that seven states have taken initiative to phase out or ban BPA. I also commend the manufacturers and retailers who have wisely begun to phase out BPA from children’s products and search for alternatives. At least 14 major manufacturers either offer some BPA-free alternatives for baby bottles and sippy cups, or completely ban its use.

What I have learned from this experience is that compromise is not possible on this issue. I very much regret that the chemical industry puts a higher priority on selling chemicals than on the health of infants.”

Reference:

Senator Dianne Feinstein, Feinstein Statement on Obstruction of Efforts to Reach Compromise Agreement on Use of BPA in Baby Products, November 17, 2010

Photo: Senator Dianne Feinstein

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19. November 2010 | Chemical Exposure, Hormone Disrupting Chemicals, Prevention | Comments (0)

Researchers renew call for governmental agencies to identify all products with BPA

New Study Indicates Higher than Predicted Human Exposure to the Toxic Chemical Bisphenol A or BPA

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Researchers have discovered that women, female monkeys and female mice have major similarities when it comes to how bisphenol A (BPA) is metabolized, and they have renewed their call for governmental regulation when it comes to the estrogen-like chemical found in many everyday products.

A study published online in the Sept. 20 NIH journal Environmental Health Perspectives ties rodent data on the health effects of BPA to predictions of human health effects from BPA with the use of everyday household products. The study was authored by researchers at the University of Missouri Division of Biological Sciences, Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Lab (VMDL) and the department of Biomedical Sciences, in collaboration with scientists at the University of California-Davis and Washington State University.

“This study provides convincing evidence that BPA is dangerous to our health at current levels of human exposure,” said Frederick vom Saal, Curators’ professor of biological sciences at the University of Missouri. “The new results clearly demonstrate that rodent data on the health effects of BPA are relevant to predictions regarding the health effects of human exposure to BPA. Further evidence of human harm should not be required for regulatory action to reduce human exposure to BPA.”

BPA is one of the world’s highest production-volume chemicals, with more than 8 billion pounds made per year. It can be found in a wide variety of consumer products, including hard plastic items such as baby bottles and food-storage containers, the plastic lining of food and beverage cans, thermal paper used for receipts, and dental sealants. The findings in the current study suggest that human exposure to BPA is much higher than some prior estimates and is likely to be from many still-unknown sources, indicating the need for governmental agencies to require the chemical industry to identify all products that contain BPA.

Several states, including Connecticut, Massachusetts, Washington, New York and Oregon, have passed bills to reduce exposure to BPA, and similar legislation is pending in the U.S. Congress.

“For years, BPA manufacturers have argued that BPA is safe and have denied the validity of more than 200 studies that showed adverse health effects in animals due to exposure to very low doses of BPA,” said Julia Taylor, lead author and associate research professor at the University of Missouri. “We know that BPA leaches out of products that contain it, and that it acts like estrogen in the body.”

“We’ve assumed we’re getting BPA from the ingestion of contaminated food and beverages,” said co-author Pat Hunt, a professor in the Washington State University School of Molecular Biosciences. “This indicates there must be a lot of other ways in which we’re exposed to this chemical and we’re probably exposed to much higher levels than we have assumed.”

The research team at the University of Missouri includes Taylor, vom Saal and student researcher Bertram Drury in Biological Sciences, as well as Wade Welshons in Biomedical Sciences and George Rottinghaus in the VMDL at MU.

Reference:

University of Missouri, New Study Indicates Higher than Predicted Human Exposure to the Toxic Chemical Bisphenol A or BPA, September 20th, 2010.

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21. September 2010 | Cancer from Chemicals, Chemical Exposure, Environmental Exposure, Hormone Disrupting Chemicals, Neurodevelopment, Prevention, Toxicology | Comments (0)

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