Compounds Showing Estrogen-Like Activity

3 Compounds Showing Estrogen-Like Activity 7.3.1 Estrogens 

In the last few years, special attention has also been paid to the exposure of humans to bisphenol A (4 -dihydroxy-2,2-diphenyl, BPA Fig. 7.1), well-known for its estrogenic properties. BPA [28] is commonly used as an industrial plasticizer and is found in paints, flame retardants, unsaturated polyester resins, plastic food packaging, containers for water, infant feeding bottles, and foils used for food storage. Several studies have confirmed the presence of BPA, at a detectable level, in a wide variety of food containers [29-31]. Views on the potential danger 

The second compound mentioned above, BEDGE, is used as a raw material for the production of epoxy resins and as a coating for covering the inside of food cans. 

The Scientific Committee on Food (SCF), which is an independent advisory committee of the European Commission, estimated safe levels for BPA that enters into food. The SCF fixed the tolerable daily intake (TDl) for bisphenol A at 0.01 mg/kg of body weight per day, after comprehensive and exhaustive analysis of all the scientific facts covering all aspects of toxicity. The food migration limit set by the European Commission for BPA is 3 mg/kg, whereas for BADGE and BFDGE it is 1 mg/kg of body weight. 

These compounds are released, for example, from plastic materials and enter surface waters, where they are subject to accumulation. The concentration of these xenoestrogens in surface water is at the level of micrograms, and even milligrams, per cubic meter. The highest content of nonylphenol was recorded in England (180 mg/m ) and octylphenol in Wales (13 mg/m ). Table 7.2 summarizes the determined concentrations of xenoestrogens in environmental samples (surface waters). 

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