bisphenol-A in composite dental fillings and food packaging

[Guest guest]

FYI, bisphenol-A is an estrogenic compound found in composite (white) dental

fillings and many food product containers. There seems to be some

controversy about the potence of its estrogenicity. Once site (unreferenced)

stated that a single composite filling provided about the equivalent of 500

hormone replacement trreatments. Others say it's estrogenic potency is not

to worry about. Most of the scientific lit. I've read so far suggests that

it should be considered, that it's worth studying further.

Here's a some info from a biocompatibility dentistry site in AU, but note

they aren't as concerned about it as some other dentists seem to be:

The substance bisphenol-A has demonstrated estrogenic activity (Krishnan et

al., 1993; Grimaudo and Shen, 1997) with a potency of approximately 1/1000th

that of the hormone 17b-estradiol (Krishnan et al., 1993). Health Canada

has recently evaluated the estrogenic potential of bisphenol-A and concluded

that a tolerable daily intake (TDI) of 25 mg/kg body weight should not pose

a risk of such effects in the general population (Pelletier, 1996).

EXPOSURE TO BISPHENOL-A FROM FOOD AND AIR

Composite resin dental materials are not the only source of bisphenol-A

exposure. Bisphenol-A-based resins are used extensively in the food

packaging industry to coat the insides of cans used to store and

commercially distribute foods. Foods preserved and distributed in

epoxy-coated cans include beer and soft drinks, dairy products, fruit and

fruit juices, vegetables and vegetable juices, meat and poultry, seafood,

and soups (Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) 1995). Foods are cooked,

pasteurized or sterilized in the can and the heating process releases

bisphenol-A to the contents of the cans (SPI 1995, Brotons et al. 1995).

Also, as a result of the widespread industrial use of bisphenol-A, it has

been detected in atmospheric fallout (Matsumoto and Hanya 1980) and surface

waters (Matsumoto 1982) near industrialized areas.

(in review) has assessed the relative exposure in adults to

bisphenol-A from composite resins, can food and beverage consumption, and

inhalation of outdoor air in industrialized urban areas. Figure 6 presents

a summary of this assessment. If the Canadian adult population were to have

exclusively composite resin fillings, then exposure to bisphenol-A from

these dental materials and from cnosumption of canned foods would be

comparable, at an average of about 12.6 mg/ day for a 70 kg adult. Total

exposure in adults would average approximately 27 mg/day.

Note that they say the average daily intake, if one had all composite

fillings coupled with environmental exposure, would be above what Health

Canada has determined the " tolerable daily intake " for whatever that's

worth.

Suze Fisher

Lapdog Design, Inc.

Web Design & Development

http://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze3shjg

Weston A. Price Foundation Chapter Leader, Mid Coast Maine

http://www.westonaprice.org

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