On May 28, 2014 the peer-reviewed scientific journal Environmental Health published a study investigating the estrogenic activity of bisphenol A (BPA)-free polycarbonate (PC) products (Bittner et al. 2014). The scientists from the company PlastiPure assessed the estrogenic activity of stressed and unstressed BPA-free polycarbonate plastics using assays based on human breast and ovarian cancer cell lines. The BPA-free products were purchased between 2010-2013 at retail outlet stores and included baby bottles, reusable water bottles and food storage containers. Products were exposed to UV light, microwaving and autoclave treatment, and extracted using either a saline based solution, 100% ethanol, aqueous ethanol or distilled water at 40°C for 40 hours. The scientists found acrylic, polyethersulfone, polystyrene, and TritanTM resins to leach chemicals with estrogenic activity; extracts from unstressed polycarbonate plastics based on cyclic olefin polymer or co-polymer resins did not show any estrogenic activity in any of the assays. Lead author George Bittner was previously involved in a law suit with Eastman Chemical concerning claims made about their polycarbonate-replacement TritanTM(previously reported on by the FPF).
Reference
Bittner, G. et al. (May 28, 2014). “Estrogenic chemicals often leach from BPA-free plastic products that are replacements for BPA-containing polycarbonate products.” Environmental Health 2014, 13:41.
