Risk Assessment of Bisphenol A in the Korean General Population

Bisphenol A (BPA) is not a natural substance but is produced artificially during the manufacturing of various plastics. Exposure to (BPA) is a pervasive and growing concern. BPA has recently been classified as a substance of great concern by the European Union (EU). BPA is suspected to be associated with several chronic human health effects. In this study, the estimated total BPA exposure levels were based on biomonitoring of the general population, and exposure levels ranged from a mean of 0.031 to 0.042 mu g/kg body weight (bw)/day, reaching up to 0.104 mu g/kg bw/day in the high-exposure population. When comparing the exposure levels of BPA to some toxicological effects, such as immunotoxicity and thyroid function, a sufficient exposure margin was not secured in the high-exposure group. Food is considered the main source of exposure for the general population, but other sources of exposure may exist in the high-exposure group. As humans are primarily exposed to BPA through food, water, house dust, skin contact, and air, integrated risk management is required to reduce BPA exposure. In addition, it is considered necessary to develop a new methodology for human health evaluation in response to low-dose exposure to BPA.

Automated summary

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an artificial substance produced during the manufacturing of plastics and has become a pervasive concern. The European Union has classified BPA as a substance of great concern. The study estimated the total BPA exposure levels in the general population and found that the high-exposure group did not have a sufficient margin of exposure when compared to toxicological effects. Food is the main source of exposure, but other sources may exist in the high-exposure group. Integrated risk management is necessary to reduce BPA exposure, and a new methodology for human health evaluation of low-dose BPA exposure is needed.