title: Conclusions of the French Food Safety Agency on the toxicity of bisphenol A.
abstract: Since more than 10 years, risk assessment of bisphenol A (BPA) is debated at the international level. In 2008, the U.S. National Toxicology Program (NTP) expressed some concern for adverse effects, at current level of exposure to BPA, on developmental toxicity. In this context, the French Food Safety Agency (AFSSA) decided to review the toxicity data on BPA with a special focus on this endpoint at doses below 5mg/kg bw/day (the no observed adverse effect level set by different regulatory bodies). This paper summarizes the conclusions of a collective assessment conducted by an expert Working Group from AFSSA. Studies were classified into 3 groups: (i) finding no toxicity, (ii) reporting results not considered to be of concern and (iii) indicating warning signals. The term "warning signal" means that no formal conclusion can be drawn regarding the establishment of a health based guidance value but the study raises some questions about the toxicity of BPA at low doses. It was concluded that studies are needed to ascertain the significance for human health of these warning signals and to be able to propose new methodologies for assessing the risks associated with low doses of BPA and more generally of endocrine disruptors.
authors.affiliation: Agence Française de Sécurité Sanitaire des Aliments, Maisons-Alfort, France. nathalie.arnich@anses.fr
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Arnich
authors.forename: Marie-Chantal
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Canivenc-Lavier
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kolf-Clauw
authors.forename: Hervé
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Coffigny
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Cravedi
authors.forename: Konrad
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Grob
authors.forename: Anne-Christine
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Macherey
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Masset
authors.forename: Rémi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maximilien
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Narbonne
authors.forename: Fabrice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nesslany
authors.forename: Jeanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stadler
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tulliez
mesh_terms: D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000633:toxicity*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005506:Food Contamination; D005602:France; D006077:Government Agencies; D033161:Government Regulation; D006801:Humans; D010636:Phenols / Q000633:toxicity*; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014481:United States; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
chemical_list: D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D010636:Phenols; C006780:bisphenol A; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds