Question in thousand euro. What does be made when influences suspicion one of the chemical substances most used in the world, notably in the manufacture of food plastics? Debate on the bisphenol A (BPA) rebounded this week, with the publication of an epidemiological study in the prestigious Newspaper of the American Medical Association (JAMA), which notices that the frequency of some pathologies and riot is higher at the adults' whose urines let appear a strong concentration of BPA.

In the United States, more than 90 % populations is impregnated, in a detectable rate, with bisphenol A. The molecule, fabricated in more than two million tons every year in the world, is often used for the manufacture of the plastic of polycarbonate and resins époxy. It is notably found in the plastic nursing bottles, the disposable dishes, the bottles of water, or limp them with preserve (1). In 2005, a study had been the talk of the town, which showed that eleven studies driven by industrialists highlighted no risk, contrary to 90 % 104 independent jobs which raised a health risk. In weak dose, BPA would notably draw away consequences to neurological development and behaviour of the young animals. The molecule passes in food and liquids, especially since their temperature is high.

Some months after a preliminary report of the national American Programme of toxicology, which concludes that the substance could have effects to the foetus and the new-born baby, the study of JAMA published this week drives the point home, at the adult this time. The researchers note an increase of 39 % of the frequency of some cardiovascular pathologies and of diabetes at the persons whose urines contain of BPA. And to the most polluting, until three times more cardiovascular pathologies and more double of diabetes. In a leader, JAMA regrets that the American and European health agencies “chose to be unaware of the warnings of the experts”.

All that does not dispose the business of the industrialists, which leans on the opinions of the health authorities, in the United States as in Europe, to proclaim the harmlessness of their plastic products. However, Canada had thrown a small bomb in spring by classifying BPA as polluting person over 18, by announcing its intention of forbidding the sale of nursing bottles in polycarbonate and by initiating a reappraisal of the health effects of the bisphenol A.

This week, the American Chemistry Council, which regroups industry chemical American, rejected conclusions of the study of JAMA, implicating the used methodology. American Food and Drug Administration iterated for his/her part the support of conclusions of an interim report of last August, which considers BPA without health hazard in contents raised in food and liquids. More near us, the Agency Food Européenne de Sécurité, as well as the French Agency of Health Security of Food (AFSSA) study all the recent jobs before deciding if it is necessary to revalue the substance.

(1) to separate food of the metal, inside of limp with preserve is covered with a coating which contains of BPA

Picture: © Denis Delbecq