‘Unhealthy’ chemical in food packaging
Rates of heart disease and diabetes may be increasing as a result of a common chemical found in plastic food packaging, new research has shown.
People exposed to the compound, bisphenol A (BPA), at a higher level were more likely to suffer type 2 diabetes, heart attacks and angina, the study found.
Abnormal concentrations of three liver enzymes, a possible sign of liver damage was also associated with the chemical.
Scientists do not yet know if there is a causal connection. But the possibility remains that BPA, one of the most mass produced chemicals in the world, may be a serious health hazard.
Concerns about what BPA might be doing to the human population had already been raised from evidence found in the animal studies.
But until now there has been little reliable data on the effect of long exposure to low doses of the chemical.
BPA is used in a host of plastic consumer products including packaging for food and beverages.
In 2003, more than two million metric tonnes of BPA was produced worldwide and each year demand for the compound increases by between 6% and 10%.
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<http://www.food.gov.uk/> (Food Standards Agency)
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