Bisphenol A in polycarbonate is not a Serious Hazard to Human Health Es

Is the Bisphenol A in polycarbonate a serious hazard to human health? Abstract: Polycarbonate, which is a polymer plastic, is found in many bottles and food packaging around the world. However, because Bisphenol A is used in the processing of it, there is a potential danger to humans. Bisphenol A is a molecule that is a hormone inhibitor and also mirrors the function of estrogen. Although the EPA has released a safe level for Bisphenol A ingestion, recent research has shown that those levels may not be safe for humans. Until further testing is done, scientists aren’t certain of the threshold of BPA intake in humans before dangerous health effects occur. Polycarbonate of Bisphenol A is a thermoplastic polymer that is easily shaped, worked with, and transformed. It has become a popular plastic for manufacturers to use, and they have been under fire recently for making bottles and food packaging out of this possibly potent material. Polycarbonate has the recycling number 7 and usually the letters PC. It contains multiple functional groups linked together by carbonate groups in a molecular chain. In the structure of this repeating molecule, there are the carbonate groups and methyl groups. The polycarbonate of Bisphenol A (BPA) is different from the others because it is processed using that molecule. The synthesis of this type of polycarbonate is as follows: 2 Bisphenol A and sodium hydroxide react to form the sodium salt of Bisphenol A. http://pslc.ws/macrog/pc.htm Then, this molecule is reacted with phosgene. Phosgene was once used as a chemical weapon in World War I, but now is an important component of organic compounds. The molecular formula of phosgene is Cl2CO. http://pslc.ws/macrog/pc.htm Final step in... ...and dose dependency of the pharmacokinetics and metabolism of bisphenol A in neonatal sprague-dawley rats following oral administration. 77(2): 230-242. Elsby, Robert, James Maggs, John Ashby, and Kevin Park. "Comparison of the Modulatory Effects of Human and Rat Liver Microsomal Metabolism on the Estrogenicity of Bisphenol A: Implications for Extrapolation to Humans." Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 297 (2001). LeGrand, Donald. Handbook of polycarbonate science and technology, NY, 2000. NTP BRIEF ON BISPHENOL A. Rep.No. 80-05-7. National Toxicology Program. 2008. "Plastics chemical bisphenol-A may promote breast cancer." 28 Aug. 2006. 25 July 2008. . â€Å"Polycarbonates† 25 July 2008.