Deciphering the real message about BPA

The Dose Makes the Poison 

According to toxicologists, the phrase ‘the dose makes the poison’ implies that for many toxic chemicals or drugs, the extent of harm increases when exposure to the chemical increases. As such, the intake of small amounts of toxic chemicals is expected to cause less significant harm to an individual than larger doses (Peeples, 2019). Similarly, the dosage should have a positive relationship with the user’s response to it. However, this concept does not seem to hold for chemicals like BPA, which mimic and mess with our hormones. For such chemicals that disrupt the endocrine, the intake of small doses can cause more significant harm. Academic scientists, therefore, use such endocrinology studies to falsify the famous principle about the dose making the poison. 

Monotonic 

Monotonic implies a predictable dose-response pattern. It shows that an increase in the dose of a chemical or drug will undoubtedly lead to an increased effect on the user. This means that the intake of large amounts will lead to a more significant response or harm to the user. With monotonic dose responses, the dose-response curve is regular and will never shift from positive to negative, like non-monotonic responses (Peeples, 2019). 

Non-Monotonic Responses 

An example of a non-monotonic response is the intake of low dosage BPA that leads to several effects, including alterations in gene expression within specific regions of the brain. Other adverse effects include disrupting the ovarian follicle development and spatial navigation. Also, diethylstilbestrol (DES), an estrogenic drug administered at a quantity of one part per billion of DES in mice, can lead to severe obesity. 

Government Regulators Studies 

Studies done by government regulators assume that greater exposure to a toxic chemical compound will always increase the extent of harm to an individual (Peeples, 2019). They use this basis to study poisonous elements and fail to consider that even small amounts of these chemical compounds may pose more significant harmful effects on the body. Unlike government regulators, academic scientists who specialize in endocrinology are more diverse in their approach and consider both monotonic and non-monotonic dose-response patterns. 

My Opinion Use of BPA 

BPA has several negative effects on our bodies, even in small quantities. A significant proportion of people have BPA in their bodies. This is because the chemical substance is used to harden plastic materials used by the global population. For instance, BPA is present in containers that store food, plastic bottles we use to drink water, and packaging materials for canned food. Small quantities of BPA could still mimic hormones in the body, causing devastating effects. It could also lead to disruption of normal hormonal levels and development in babies. Studies done on animals have shown mixed results. The National Toxicology Program at the FDA also expressed concerns about the chemical's effects on brain development and behavioral traits in infants. Moreover, adults who have high levels of BPA in their bodies tend to register a higher incidence of heart problems. This chemical element has several effects on the health of infants, children, and adults. Though the results might not be wholly attributed to the use of BPA, evidence shows that it plays a part in the long run in causing these effects. Other studies suggest that infants and young children are the ones more prone to these effects of BPA. This is because their bodies are developing and are less efficient at getting rid of substances from their systems. According to this evidence, I believe BPA should be controlled or regulated by the government to ensure reduced exposure to the general public. This will also improve the quality of life. 

References 

Peeples, L. (2019, November 15).  Exposed: Deciphering the real message about BPA . EHN.  https://www.ehn.org/bpa-science-health-2641150585.html?rebelltitem=6#rebelltitem6