MedWire News: Exposure to high levels of a chemical that is used in food packaging and many other consumer products may be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, study findings indicate.
Bisphenol A is one of the the most widely produced and used chemicals in the world, with more than two million metric tons produced worldwide in 2003 alone, explain Dr David Melzer, from the Peninsula Medical School in Exeter, UK, and team.
Indeed, they say: "Widespread and continuous exposure to bisphenol A, primarily through food but also through drinking water, dental sealants, dermal exposure, and inhalation of household dusts, is evident from the presence of detectable levels of bisphenol A in more than 90% of the US population."
However, the researchers add that evidence of harmful health effects of bisphenol A exposure in animals has caused concern over long-term, low-level exposure to the chemical in humans.
They therefore studied data on 1455 adults, aged between 18 and 74 years, who participated in a national US health survey in 2003-2004.
The team compared urine levels of bisphenol A in the participants with their reported health status.
After accounting for age and gender, the researchers found that, compared with participants with low levels of bisphenol A in their urine, those with high levels of the chemical were significantly more likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease and/or diabetes.
Indeed, each one-standard deviation increase in bisphenol A concentration was associated with a 39% increased risk of angina, coronary heart disease, heart attack and/or diabetes.
Writing in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Dr Melzer and team summarise: "We found that higher urinary concentrations of bisphenol A were associated with an increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and liver-enzyme abnormalities."
They conclude: ""Given the substantial negative effects on adult health that may be associated with increased bisphenol A concentrations and also given the potential for reducing human exposure, our findings deserve scientific follow-up."