How does bisphenol A harm humans?

Answer 1

The most frequently reported toxicological effects noted from exposure to Bisphenol-A include adverse effects on liver cells, potential for carcinogenicity, and also endocrine effects during pregnancy and throughout lifelong exposure to this substance. Of particular concern to the general public health is the widespread nature of exposure (over 90% of general population testing positive for bisphenol-A in urine samples) and the long-term nature of toxicity. The subclinical effects seen throughout life make it difficult to design adequately robust trials over a sufficient number of years to identify effects specifically related to exposure. Like cancer trials, such "longitudinal" studies may require decades of follow-up to determine confidence in any clinical significance. The current most significant documentation concerns the ability of bisphenol-A to act as an estrogen-like substance within the body. This effect was originally identified as long ago as over 70 years, but has gained more attention with the increased emphasis by the FDA on chronic long-term exposure of minute quantities of chemicals in the population. As a hormonal "shadow" of estrogen, effects have been implicated such as reduced sexual dimorphism, or a greater tendency towards androgony (possessing both traits of male/female) between the genders. It has also been implicated in the documented increase in female sexual maturation, based on age of onset of menstruation coming one year earlier in females and on the appearance of earlier and more exagerrated features of sexual maturity among girls. It has also been implicated in the increased rates of miscarriage among women. Again, these effects occur due to the exposure of the body to estrogen-like chemicals at an age before the ovaries would normally produce natural estrogen.