Contribution to the Human exposure assessment related to substitutes and derivatives of Bisphenol A and to the associated hazard characterisation. – NEWPLAST

The present project focuses on substitutes and derivatives of bisphenol A (BPA) which are used in the manufacture of polycarbonate and epoxy resins, including food contact materials. Indeed, a growing attention has been paid to BPA in recent years, giving rise to an intense debate concerning its endocrine disrupting properties and in fine the associated risk for humans. If BPA is still under the spotlights, the study of other related substances used as derivatives or substitutes must be given a high priority. Indeed, a gap was observed during the “BPA crisis” between the scientifically documented risk assessment approach and a risk management position rapidly adopting the precautionary principle. This was a damageable experience from which lessons have to be learnt. The present project aims to avoid the reoccurrence of such a situation for a new generation of BPA analogues for which risk assessment has not yet been performed. Our primary targeted substances will be two main BPA substitutes/derivatives namely bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE), and our aim will be to generate appropriate data as regards (i) their biotransformation and biological impact on the human hepatic function, (ii) their biotransformation and biological impact on the human reproductive function, (iii) their modes of actions at molecular level through ligand-receptor binding / transactivation mechanisms, (iv) the human external and internal exposure assessment. A set of secondary targeted substances (BPA analogues including bisphenols B, C, E, F, M, AP and AF) will also be considered for human exposure and ligand-receptor activities. The common guiding principles considered throughout the project will concern: the considered biological models / sub-populations (humans, and more particularly pregnant women, foetus/newborn and adult males), and the consideration of realistic exposure conditions for toxicological tests (low doses, compounds alone versus mixtures representative of the real human exposure).