ABSTRACT
Since more than 10 years, risk assessment of bisphenol A (BPA) is debated at the international level. In 2008, the U.S. National Toxicology Program (NTP) expressed some concern for adverse effects, at current level of exposure to BPA, on developmental toxicity. In this context, the French Food Safety Agency (AFSSA) decided to review the toxicity data on BPA with a special focus on this endpoint at doses below 5mg/kg bw/day (the no observed adverse effect level set by different regulatory bodies). This paper summarizes the conclusions of a collective assessment conducted by an expert Working Group from AFSSA. Studies were classified into 3 groups: (i) finding no toxicity, (ii) reporting results not considered to be of concern and (iii) indicating warning signals. The term "warning signal" means that no formal conclusion can be drawn regarding the establishment of a health based guidance value but the study raises some questions about the toxicity of BPA at low doses. It was concluded that studies are needed to ascertain the significance for human health of these warning signals and to be able to propose new methodologies for assessing the risks associated with low doses of BPA and more generally of endocrine disruptors.
Subject(s)
Endocrine Disruptors/toxicity , Environmental Exposure/adverse effects , Food Contamination , Phenols/toxicity , Benzhydryl Compounds , France , Government Agencies , Government Regulation , Humans , Reference Values , Risk Assessment , United StatesABSTRACT
NDL-PCBs dietary intake was recently estimated in France by combining results of food products contamination by NDL-PCBs (1665 samples collected through 2002-2006 national monitoring programs) with food consumption data of the French "INCA" survey (individual and national survey of dietary intake, performed in 1998-1999). The mean dietary intake of NDL-PCBs estimated from the sum of 6 congeners (PCB 28, 52, 101, 138, 153, 180) is 7.6, 7.7 and 12.9ng/kg bw/d for women of childbearing age (19-44years), adults (15years and over) and children (3-14years), respectively. Impact of draft maximal levels (MLs) for NDL-PCBs in some foodstuffs was evaluated. The exposure scenario indicates that use of European draft MLs would have a very limited impact on the French population dietary exposure compared with the existing situation (no MLs). Simulations show that lowered MLs required for reducing significantly the French exposure would result to reject more than 20% of the targeted products from the French market compared with 1.3% according to the European draft MLs.
