The risks of BPA: a silent crisis in Europe?

New research uncovers alarming data: the majority of Europeans are exposed to Bisphenol A (BPA) levels that could be detrimental to health. Found in many everyday items – from food packaging to drinking water pipes – BPA is now under heightened scrutiny.

According to the European Environment Agency (EEA), an updated study reveals that the levels of BPA exposure amongst Europeans vastly exceed what is considered safe. Shockingly, data from an extensive EU biomonitoring study shows that nearly every participant from 11 EU nations had been exposed to these unsafe levels.

Leena Ylä-Mononen, the EEA Executive Director, expresses her concern: “Bisphenol A is posing a far-reaching health threat, more so than we'd previously realized. The insights from the EU's recent human biomonitoring research are clear, and we need to intensify our efforts to protect the health of our citizens.”

Why should you be concerned?

BPA's prevalence in consumer goods is unsettling. Predominantly, people ingest BPA from food and drink containers. A recent evaluation by the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) emphasizes this concern, pointing out that canned goods are the most significant BPA source for every age group. The findings are sobering: even at minuscule doses, BPA can compromise our immune system. On top of this, other health issues like endocrine disruption, decreased fertility, and allergic reactions have been linked to BPA exposure.

Supporting the EFSA's conclusion, the latest biomonitoring data reveals that despite efforts to regulate and reduce BPA exposure since 2015, the levels found in human urine samples remain concerningly high. This study offers a tangible insight into the extent of BPA exposure, gauging it from diverse sources.

For a deeper dive into the alarming findings on BPA, access the EEA's detailed report, ‘Human exposure to Bisphenol A in Europe’.

Eea.europa.eu