Scientists have long suspected that industrial chemicals used in plastic bottles can disrupt human hormones.
A groundbreaking new study provides direct evidence that bisphenol A – or BPA, a chemical used for packaging food and beverages found in plastic bottles, may decrease insulin sensitivity, which is the hormone that helps regulate blood sugar levels, according to Business Insider.
Health Risks from Plastic Bottles
Reduced insulin responsiveness, known as insulin resistance, can lead to chronically high blood sugar levels and significantly increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Researchers presented their findings at the 2024 scientific session of the American Diabetes Association, suggesting that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) may need to reassess safety limits for BPA exposure in plastic bottles, food containers, and other types of packaging.
BPA, a chemical used for packaging food and beverages found in plastic bottles, may reduce insulin sensitivity – (Photo: MindBodyGreen).
Researchers from California Polytechnic State University studied 40 healthy adults who were randomly assigned to receive either a placebo or a small daily dose of BPA. After four days, participants using BPA showed poorer responses to insulin, while the placebo group showed no changes.
The BPA dose administered to participants, 50 micrograms/kg of body weight per day, is currently classified by the EPA as safe.
Todd Hagobian, the senior author of the study and a professor at California Polytechnic State University, stated in a press release: “These results suggest that the EPA’s safe dose may need to be reevaluated, and healthcare providers may want to recommend these changes to patients.”
Environmental Contaminants Are a Major Health Threat
The FDA considers BPA safe at low levels in food containers, up to 5 mg per kg of body weight per day, which is 1,000 times the amount that the new study indicates poses a risk. Some researchers argue that the FDA guidelines are outdated.
Other regulatory agencies worldwide have taken a firmer stance on this chemical. The European Commission has proposed banning BPA in products that come into contact with food or beverages by the end of 2024.
Concerns about BPA are part of a broader warning regarding our daily exposure to substances that may be harmful to health.
A recent study also discovered microplastics, tiny particles capable of infiltrating human cells, which can devastate health. They are found everywhere, from human lungs to reproductive organs.
Understanding how the substances we encounter daily have long-term effects on health can help us make better decisions about reducing the risk of chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes.
“Since diabetes is the leading cause of death in the United States, it’s crucial to understand even the smallest factors that contribute to this disease. We were surprised to find that reducing exposure to BPA, such as using glass or stainless steel bottles and BPA-free cans, could lower the risk of diabetes,” Hagobian remarked in the press release.
