Probabilistic Modeling of Potential Bisphenol-A (BPA) Exposure in School Meals

Abstract

Probabilistic Modeling of Potential Bisphenol-A (BPA) Exposure in School MealsAbstract Number:2636 Jennifer C. Hartle*, Mary A. Fox, and Robert S. Lawrence Jennifer C. Hartle* Stanford Prevention Research Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, United States, E-mail Address: [email protected] Search for more papers by this author , Mary A. Fox Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, United States, E-mail Address: [email protected] Search for more papers by this author , and Robert S. Lawrence Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, United States, E-mail Address: [email protected] Search for more papers by this author AbstractObjectives: A growing body of research demonstrates the potential adverse health effects of chemical contaminants unintentionally introduced into food from its packaging. Many endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), including bisphenol –A (BPA), are approved for use in food packaging, with residual and unreacted BPA migrating into the foods it contacts. This research models the potential exposure dose of BPA leached from packaging of food typically served in schools participating in the United States’ National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP). Exposure to EDCs is of particular concern to school-aged children because their developing bodies are especially vulnerable to hormone disruption.Methods: Probabilistic exposure models for school breakfast and school lunch were informed by data collected from key food service personnel interviews, a food service director survey, school site visits, and published BPA food concentration values. Exposure scenarios included meals with low, moderate, and high levels of canned and packaged food exposure. Intake values were based on the NSLP and SBP guidelines and incorporated plate waste potential.Results: The BPA exposure models resulted in a potential dose range of 7.7 x 10-4 μg/kg-BW/day for the minimum low exposure breakfast for a 6th-8th grader with average plate waste to a high of 0.97 μg/ kg-BW/day, for the maximum high potential exposure meal consumed at lunch by a K-5 student.Conclusions: The modeled BPA exposure doses from school meals are low in comparison to the US EPA Oral Reference Dose (RfD) of 50 μg/kg-BW/day, a level based on rat studies from 1982 deemed to be safe for chronic exposure. Recent research shows BPA animal toxicity thresholds that are up to three orders of magnitude below the current RfD. Many of the doses modeled in this research exceed this toxicity threshold, illustrating the potential for school meals to expose children to chronic toxic levels of BPA.