Title:Systematic Review Methodologies and Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals:
Improving Evaluations of the Plastic Monomer Bisphenol A
Volume: 22
Issue: 7
Author(s): Laura N. Vandenberg*Katherine E. Pelch
Affiliation:
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts,
Amherst, MA, USA
Keywords:
Meta-analysis, uterotrophic, key characteristic, low dose effect, klimisch score, xenoestrogen.
Abstract:
Background: Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are found in plastics, personal
care products, household items, and other consumer goods. Risk assessments are intended to characterize
a chemical’s hazards, identify the doses at which adverse outcomes are observed, quantify
exposure levels, and then compare these doses to determine the likelihood of risk in a given population.
There are many problems with risk assessments for EDCs, allowing people to be exposed to
levels that are later associated with serious health outcomes in epidemiology studies.
Objective: In this review, we examine issues that affect the evaluation of EDCs in risk assessments
(e.g., use of insensitive rodent strains and absence of disease-oriented outcomes in hazard assessments;
inadequate exposure assessments). We then review one well-studied chemical, Bisphenol A
(BPA; CAS #80-05-7) an EDC found in plastics, food packaging, and other consumer products.
More than one hundred epidemiology studies suggest associations between BPA exposures and adverse
health outcomes in environmentally exposed human populations.
Results: We present support for the use of systematic review methodologies in the evaluation of
BPA and other EDCs. Systematic reviews would allow studies to be evaluated for their reliability
and risk of bias. They would also allow all data to be used in risk assessments, which is a requirement
for some regulatory agencies.
Conclusion: Systematic review methodologies can be used to improve evaluations of BPA and
other EDCs. Their use could help to restore faith in risk assessments and ensure that all data are utilized
in decision-making. Regulatory agencies are urged to conduct transparent, well-documented
and proper systematic reviews for BPA and other EDCs.