“One Health”: Dogs Are Also Affected by Bisphenol A

Bisphenol A, used in the manufacture of plastics and resins, is also found in dog food cans. Significant concentrations of this chemical have been found in the serum of these animals, according to the findings of a study* conducted by researchers at the University of Missouri in the United States. However, because of their close proximity to humans, dogs’ exposure to bisphenol A through canned food could have implications for human health.   Canned foods and beverages are by far the most significant source of bisphenol A exposure. The American researchers assessed the level of BPA in dog food cans before studying its short-term effects on the canine gut microbiome. The results show a marked increase in BPA levels in dogs fed canned food. The bacterial ecosystem is affected by exposure to this endocrine disruptor, and metabolic changes have been observed, which could have consequences for animal and human health . Humans and dogs share a certain degree of bacterial proximity and live in the same environment, making dogs an ideal model for research into the impact of daily exposure to industrial chemicals—even at low doses—on human health. To conduct this study, healthy dogs were selected from a pool of volunteer owners. Blood and fecal samples were first collected; then, for two weeks, the dogs were fed two diets consisting of commercially available canned dog food, one of which was presumed to be free of bisphenol A. At the same time, the metal cans and their contents were analyzed to assess BPA concentrations. Initially, all dogs had low levels of BPA in their blood. After just two weeks on the canned food diet, these BPA levels nearly tripled. Similarly, it was found that an increase in serum bisphenol A concentrations in the dogs studied was correlated with metabolic changes and alterations in the gut microbiome. This increase in bisphenol A levels also reduces the ability of bacteria to metabolize BPA and related environmental chemicals. Bisphenol A is an endocrine disruptor whose harmful effects are well-recognized and which has led to its ban in the manufacture of baby bottles in France since 2010. Parliamentarians’ attempt to ban it from many metal food containers was thwarted by the chemical industry lobby on the grounds of competitive rights within the European market. However, as of January 1, 2015, food is no longer allowed to come into contact with this substance. In theory, at least. In April 2016, the Association for Health and the Environment in France (Asef)**, an organization of physicians, analyzed commercially available cans and food containers that still contained bisphenol A more than a year after the ban, in addition to bisphenols S and F, which are still authorized and used as substitutes. However, according to a University of Massachusetts study on the effects of bisphenol S in mice***, this chemical compound affects the maternal behavior of mothers exposed during gestation and lactation, as well as that of young females exposed in utero . In particular, a surprising increase in the incidence of infanticide and inappropriate maternal care was observed in these mice. As with BPA, BPS has been proven to be an endocrine disruptor. The response must be a European one, at the very least . And it won’t be easy. While Members of the European Parliament voted on a non-binding resolution on October 6, this position is subject to repeated attacks from the plastics industry, with the European Food Health Security Authority (EFSA) serving as an increasingly contested arbiter. In Europe and the United States, EFSA and the U.S. National Toxicology Program are set to publish new assessments on exposure to bisphenol A shortly. Following that, EFSA is expected to launch a public consultation on its ongoing work. However, only bisphenol A is being addressed, even though the others—S and F—are just as dangerous.   * Bisphenol A (BPA) in the serum of pet dogs following short-term consumption of canned dog food and potential health consequences of exposure to BPA, Science of The Total Environment, February 2017, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969716326274 ** http://www.asef-asso.fr/presse/2740-avril-2016-bisphenol-a-in-supermarkets*** http://www.umass.edu/newsoffice/article/plastics-compound-bps-alters-mouse-moms%E2%80%99