Chemical linked to mouse genetic damage

By Alex Kirby - BBC News Online environment correspondent

Laboratory mice have suffered genetic damage from a compound used in many household items, US researchers say. It's a finding that could be significant for human health. Professor Ana Soto, Tufts University: The compound, bisphenol A (BPA), is used for making some plastics and resins, food packaging, and dental sealants.

The exposed mice showed increases in meiotic errors - the flawed division of reproductive cells.

The researchers believe BPA is a potent meiotic aneugen, a substance that affects the number of chromosomes, the structure into which DNA is bundled. The team, headed by Dr Patricia Hunt of Case Western Reserve University, describe their work in Current Biology. They found BPA, a manmade compound which in the body has hormone-like properties that mimic the effects of natural oestrogens, could cause meiotic aneuploidy in female mice. Meiosis is the division of a cell producing eggs or sperm in which the nucleus splits twice, resulting in four sex cells each possessing half the number of chromosomes of the original cell. It is characteristic of organisms that reproduce sexually. Aneuploidy is the gain or loss of individual chromosomes from the normal set.

BPA is used in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins, in food and drink packaging, often for lining cans, and in dentistry.

Chance finding

Dr Hunt and her colleagues were studying mice in an unconnected piece of research when they noticed a sudden increase in meiotic errors in the animals, including aneuploidy. Investigations showed this coincided with the inadvertent exposure of the mice to a source of BPA in their laboratory housing, damaged caging material. The team spent several years checking if this really was the cause by deliberately damaging cages and water bottles, and then giving the female mice daily oral doses of BPA. They say: "Our results demonstrated that the meiotic effects were dose-dependent and could be induced by environmentally relevant doses of BPA. "These results provide the first unequivocal link between mammalian meiotic aneuploidy and an accidental environmental exposure. We have a high level of confidence these initial studies don't translate into the postulated effects in real animals

David Thomas, BPA industry group
"We have observed meiotic effects in mice at exposure levels close to or even below those considered 'safe'. "A recent study of pregnant women and their foetuses conducted in Germany suggests that current human exposure levels may well be within this range. "The possibility that BPA exposure increases the likelihood of genetically abnormal offspring is too serious to be dismissed without extensive further study." Ana Soto is professor of cell biology at Tufts University medical school, US. She told BBC News Online: "First, anyone else using similar cages may be producing totally spurious research results. "Beyond that, this is one more piece of research - and an important one - that adds to the picture we've built up. "We've already found evidence that BPA can damage the mammary, the uterus and the male genital tract in lab animals. "This research shows it alters reproductive cells both in foetuses and in adult animals. It's a finding that could be significant for human health." Reassurance from industry

David Thomas, of the BPA industry group, told BBC News Online: "Some powerful studies have looked for possible effects of BPA, like miscarriages or litter size in animals, and haven't found them. "We have a high level of confidence these initial studies don't translate into the postulated effects in real animals. "And we don't think this adds to concerns anyone may have about possible effects of BPA on human health."

Gwynne Lyons, toxics science and policy advisor to WWF UK, told BBC News Online: "It looks as if the smoking gun on bisphenol A is now firing."

Mary Taylor of Friends of the Earth UK said: "This research adds to our concerns about BPA and reinforces our view that it should be phased out and replaced with safer chemicals.

On February 13, 2003, more than 80 people attended the 31st Street PUBLIC MEETING TO ADDRESS THE LACK OF INFORMATION ON A NEW 11-ACRE PLASTICS RECYCLING FACTORY ACROSS THE STREET FROM RESIDENTIAL AREAS IN LITTLE VILLAGE, organized by LVEJO the meeting took place at Los Globos Ballroom.

After two years of requests from the community the owners of MRC Polymers Inc./Prima Plastics, and Alderman Ricardo Muñoz of the 22nd Ward, attended the meeting to clarify and answers questions from the community. The big no-show of the evening was the Department of Panning and Development, who received countless faxed, mailed and phoned invitations.

The panel made the following commitments:

We also requested that MRC Polymers, Inc. inform the community of their plan of action in regards to the testing for leakage and removal of the underground storage tanker located on the site.

We are also requesting clarification to the following in letterform by Monday, February 24, 2003: MRC Polymers, Inc. will not be closing any streets either now or in the future around their site.

At the meeting it was stated that MRC Polymers, Inc. had submitted a Site Remediation Plan, we have asked that they provide us with either the web page were we can find the plan or a contact person at the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency that knows about their submission.

Principle Construction Corp.:

Alderman:

At the meeting the Alderman stated that MRC Polymers, Inc. had submitted a Site Remediation Plan, we have asked to be provided with either the web page were we can find the plan or a contact person at the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency that knows about their submission. We have also requested that Alderman Ricardo Muñoz provide the community with his plan of action in regards to insuring that MRC Polymers, Inc. test for leakage and the removal process of the underground storage tanker located on the site.

Dept. of Planning and Development:

We also requested that Department of Planning and Development present to the community their plan of action in regards to insuring that MRC Polymers, Inc. test for leakage and the removal process of the underground storage tanker located on the site.

We have asked for all of these commitments to be fulfilled by Monday, February 24, 2003

Late Breaking News:
VICTORIES IN THE STRUGGLE FOR 31st & CENTRAL PARK

Since June 2000, over 4,000 of us in Little Village have mobilized in the struggle to
build the MRC Plastic Factory at 36th & Pulaski instead of at 31st & Central Park.

1. What can we do now?

Presently the site is contaminated with chemicals that can hurt us, our children, and the workers in the area.
The chemicals that are present on the 4 acres of land are Benz (a) anthracene, Dibenz (a, h), Benzo (e) pyrene, and Benzo (a) Fluoranthene. These chemicals combine with dust particles in the air and can be carried into water, soil, onto plants and into our homes.
Under the current law if one pound of these chemicals are released into the environment within 24-hours, the EPA must be notified. These chemicals have been present at the site for many years. One of the many risks of these toxic chemicals is that they can cause cancer.

2. How can we get MRC to clean up the land?
MRC at the present time has not submitted a clean up plan to the IEPA as called for by the IEPA Site Remediation Program.

3. The best way to do this is to:

4. So why should we care now that MRC has some of the land?

http://www.epa.state.il.us/land/site-remediation/overview.html

http://www.epa.state.il.us/land/cleanup-programs/community-relations.html