BPA in household dust poses no health risk, claims new study

The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SSNC) studied chemical levels in household dust collected in 12 countries and found the average level of BPA was 570 times below the acceptable daily intake limit set by local regulators.

There has been considerable controversy over the use of BPA in plastic products such as food and drink containers, particularly those aimed at children. A number of states in the US have banned the use of BPA in babies' bottles, while China banned its use in similar containers in June this year.

However Plastics Europe, the European association of plastic manufacturers argued that the SSNC’s findings, along with those of other organisations including the European Food Safety Authority, “concluded that for consumers – even for infants and small children – there is no risk from contact with BPA-based products”.

Plastics Europe said the Swedish study was based on an oral exposure scenario of 200 mg/day and a body weight of seven kg for a toddler and that as inhalation of dust, especially for very small children, was “rather unlikely”, calculations had been made for oral intake of dust via licking from hands.

“The Swedish scenario assumes a comparably high amount of dust and a low-weight child, and is therefore a very conservative assumption. Nevertheless, taking the measurements from all the 12 samples the average level of BPA measured is 3.08 mg/kg dust (3.08 ppm), resulting in an actual intake at least 570 times beneath the tolerable daily intake limit as set by EFSA assumed to be safe for a daily, life-long intake,” the group added.

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