In an article published October 14, 2013 by the news provider Forbes, contributor Alice Walton reports on two studies that linked food contact substances phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA) to reproductive problems in both sexes. The studies were presented at the 69th American Society for Reproductive Medicine’s annual meeting, which took place on October 12-17, 2013 in Boston. The first study linked high body burden of BPA to an increased risk of miscarriage, whereas the second study showed that men with higher levels of phthalates where 20% less likely to get their partners pregnant during the course of a year (previously reported by the FPF). While BPA is used a monomer in polycarbonate (PC) plastics and epoxy coatings used for food contact materials, phthalates are used as a plasticizer in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics. Walton states in the article that even though the studies were of small sizes, they are relevant as the compounds are known endocrine disruptors (EDCs) and therefore have the potential to affect reproductive health and cancer risk. Walton stresses that a major problem with the phasing out of compounds is that they have to be replaced by other, likely less tested and potentially equally harmful compounds. She expresses the hope that better testing methods at doses humans are normally exposed to will also lead to better safety laws and tests.
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Alice Walton (October 14, 2013). “BPA, Phthalates May Pose Reproductive Problems In Both Sexes.” Forbes.
