# Risk Assessment of Bisphenol A in the Korean General Population
###### Abstract  
Bisphenol A (BPA) is not a natural substance but is produced artificially during the manufacturing of various plastics. Exposure to (BPA) is a pervasive and growing concern. BPA has recently been classified as a substance of great concern by the European Union (EU). BPA is suspected to be associated with several chronic human health effects. In this study, the estimated total BPA exposure levels were based on biomonitoring of the general population, and exposure levels ranged from a mean of 0.031 to 0.042 \(\mathrm{\SIUnitSymbolMicro g}\)/kg body weight (bw)/day, reaching up to 0.104 \(\mathrm{\SIUnitSymbolMicro g}\)/kg bw/day in the high-exposure population. When comparing the exposure levels of BPA to some toxicological effects, such as immunotoxicity and thyroid function, a sufficient exposure margin was not secured in the high-exposure group. Food is considered the main source of exposure for the general population, but other sources of exposure may exist in the high-exposure group. As humans are primarily exposed to BPA through food, water, house dust, skin contact, and air, integrated risk management is required to reduce BPA exposure. In addition, it is considered necessary to develop a new methodology for human health evaluation in response to low-dose exposure to BPA. bisphenol A; health-based guidance value; margin of exposure; estimated daily intake; thyroid hormone +
Footnote †: journal: Medical  
with materials, including plastic containers and metal cans with a protective lining, small amounts of BPA can leach out and contaminate the food. In food monitoring for BPA, it is typically undetectable in most food. Recently, an integrated risk assessment was conducted which comprehensively considered not only food, but also consumer products such as cosmetics and children's toys, as well as environmental media [16]. According to a risk assessment result conducted by the National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation (NIFDS) of Republic of Korea, BPA may be present in several food items at acceptable levels that do not pose considerable risks to human health [17; 18]. However, risk managers are concerned about whether the current exposure levels of BPA in the general population are safe after the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published a new HbGV for BPA [19]. Recently, EFSA has suggested lowering the TDI by 0.04 ng/kg body weight (bw)/day, which is 100,000 times lower than the previous temporary TDI of 4 \(\mu\)g/kg bw/day [19; 20]. Risk characterization can be evaluated using both exposure data and safety level. The safety level is determined from animal toxicological studies due to limited epidemiological evidence. Various safety levels for BPA have been proposed at different times by various risk assessment agencies, such as the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), Health Canada, Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO)/World Health Organization (WHO), EFSA, as well as in Republic of Korea. In early animal toxicity studies of BPA, liver toxicity and reproductive toxicity were reported as critical effects [21; 22; 23]. These effects have been found with high amounts of BPA [24]. Recently, BPA has been found to have estrogen-like and anti-androgen effects, causing damage to different tissues and organs such as the immune system and the neuroendocrine system [24; 25; 26]. Endocrine-disrupting effects of BPA have been reported at low doses, which are below the accepted no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) for BPA in animal toxicity studies [27; 28; 29]. The BPA safety level proposed by EFSA was calculated based on the lowest reference point BMDL20 of 60 ng/kg bw/day (expressed as the human equivalent dose of 0.93 ng/kg bw/day), related to an increment of Th17 cell frequency in the spleen of offspring mice [19]. BPA can enter the human body through different routes, such as oral, respiratory, or dermal, from diverse sources, such as food, house dust, water, and various consumer products [27; 30; 31; 32; 33].