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Bisphenol A (BPA) in Canadians

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Organization: Health Canada

Date published: 2021-12-14

Information on human biomonitoring of BPA in Canada with results from the Canadian Health Measures Survey.

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Background

What is bisphenol A (BPA)?

BPA (CASRN 80-05-7) is a synthetic chemical used as a monomer to produce certain polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins.

Where is BPA found?

Polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins are widely used in consumer products. Examples include food and beverage containers, sporting and safety equipment, electronics, automotive parts and medical devices. BPA is also used in thermal paper coatings for receipts, prescription labels and airline tickets.

How are people exposed to BPA?

People are exposed to BPA mainly by eating food containing it. BPA migrates from food packaging and repeat-use polycarbonate plastic containers. Skin contact from handling thermal printing paper is considered an important secondary route of exposure.

How is BPA measured in people?

BPA is readily absorbed and undergoes extensive metabolism in the body. BPA and its metabolites are commonly measured in urine as total BPA. These measurements reflect recent exposure to BPA.

What are the potential health impacts of BPA?

Potential risks to human health from exposure to BPA include effects on the liver and kidneys. They also include potential effects on reproduction, development, neurodevelopment and behaviour. However, dietary exposure from food packaging is not expected to pose health risks to the general population, including newborns and young children.

What is the Government of Canada doing to lower human exposures to BPA?

BPA is identified as toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. Regulations under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act prohibit the manufacture, advertisement, sale or import of baby bottles containing BPA. The Government of Canada continues to monitor and assess BPA.

Data sources

Table 1. Biomonitoring initiatives and their target populations
Initiative Target population
Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) General Canadian population living in the 10 provinces
First Nations Biomonitoring Initiative (FNBI) First Nations people living on-reserve south of the 60° parallel
Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals (MIREC) study Pregnant women and their infants recruited from obstetric and prenatal clinics in 10 cities across Canada
U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) General U.S. population

This fact sheet presents nationally representative data from the CHMS. These data are compared with data from the FNBI, the MIREC study and the U.S. NHANES.

Table 2. Biomonitoring initiatives and their collection periods, participant age ranges, matrices sampled and biomarkers measured
Collection period Age range (years) Matrix Biomarker
CHMS
2007–2009 6 to 79 Urine Total BPA
2009–2011 3 to 79 Urine Total BPA
2012–2013 3 to 79 Urine Total BPA
2014–2015 3 to 79 Urine Total BPA
2016–2017 3 to 79 Urine Total BPA
2018–2019 3 to 79 Urine Total BPA
FNBI
2011 20+ Urine Total BPA
MIREC study
2008–2011 18+ Urine Total BPA
U.S. NHANES
2007–2008 6+ Urine Total BPA
2009–2010 6+ Urine Total BPA
2011–2012 6+ Urine Total BPA
2013–2014 6+ Urine Total BPA
2015–2016 3+ Urine Total BPA

Results

Canadian population

Figure 1. BPA concentrations in the Canadian population aged 6 to 79.

This figure shows the geometric mean concentrations of BPA in urine (µg/L) in the Canadian population from the CHMS (2007–2019).

Figure 1: Text description
Collection period Geometric mean
2007–2009 1.2
2009–2011 1.2
2012–2013 1.1
2014–2015 1.0
2016–2017 0.81
2018–2019 0.68

There was a statistically significant decreasing trend (P < 0.001) in BPA concentrations in the Canadian population aged 6 to 79. Concentrations declined by 43% between 2007–2009 and 2018–2019.

Canadian population, by age group

Figure 2. BPA concentrations in the Canadian population, by age group.

This figure shows the geometric mean concentrations of BPA in urine (µg/L) in the Canadian population by age group from the CHMS (2007–2019). BPA was measured in individuals aged 6 to 79 in 2007–2009. Concentrations were therefore not available (NA) for individuals aged 3 to 5.

Figure 2: Text description
Collection period Age group (years) Geometric mean
2007–2009 3 to 5 NA
2007–2009 6 to 11 1.3
2007–2009 12 to 19 1.5
2007–2009 20 to 39 1.4
2007–2009 40 to 59 1.1
2007–2009 60 to 79 0.93
2009–2011 3 to 5 1.4
2009–2011 6 to 11 1.4
2009–2011 12 to 19 1.4
2009–2011 20 to 39 1.3
2009–2011 40 to 59 1.2
2009–2011 60 to 79 1.0
2012–2013 3 to 5 1.2
2012–2013 6 to 11 1.2
2012–2013 12 to 19 1.4
2012–2013 20 to 39 1.1
2012–2013 40 to 59 1.1
2012–2013 60 to 79 0.88
2014–2015 3 to 5 1.2
2014–2015 6 to 11 1.1
2014–2015 12 to 19 1.1
2014–2015 20 to 39 1.1
2014–2015 40 to 59 0.86
2014–2015 60 to 79 1.1
2016–2017 3 to 5 0.94
2016–2017 6 to 11 0.97
2016–2017 12 to 19 0.96
2016–2017 20 to 39 0.84
2016–2017 40 to 59 0.73
2016–2017 60 to 79 0.77
2018–2019 3 to 5 0.80
2018–2019 6 to 11 0.80
2018–2019 12 to 19 0.96
2018–2019 20 to 39 0.73
2018–2019 40 to 59 0.59
2018–2019 60 to 79 0.61

Concentrations of BPA were similar across age groups in the Canadian population in the most recent collection period (2018–2019).

Canadian population, by sex

Figure 3. BPA concentrations in the Canadian population aged 6 to 79, by sex.

This figure shows the geometric mean concentrations of BPA in urine (µg/L) in the Canadian population by sex from the CHMS (2007–2019).

Figure 3: Text description
Collection period Sex Geometric mean
2007–2009 Females 1.1
2007–2009 Males 1.3
2009–2011 Females 1.2
2009–2011 Males 1.3
2012–2013 Females 1.0
2012–2013 Males 1.2
2014–2015 Females 0.92
2014–2015 Males 1.2
2016–2017 Females 0.78
2016–2017 Males 0.84
2018–2019 Females 0.60
2018–2019 Males 0.77

Concentrations of BPA were similar between females and males in the Canadian population in the most recent collection period (2018–2019).

Comparison of the general population and First Nations on-reserve population in Canada

Figure 4. BPA concentrations in the general population and First Nations on-reserve population in Canada.

This figure shows the geometric mean concentrations of BPA in urine (µg/L) in the general population aged 20 to 79 from the CHMS (2009–2011) and First Nations on-reserve population aged 20 and older from the FNBI (2011).

Figure 4: Text description
Biomonitoring initiative Geometric mean
CHMS 1.2
FNBI 1.6

Concentrations of BPA were higher in the First Nations on-reserve population than in the general population in Canada.

Comparison of women of child-bearing age and pregnant women in Canada

Figure 5. BPA concentrations in women of child-bearing age and women in the first trimester of pregnancy in Canada.

This figure shows the geometric mean concentrations of BPA in urine (µg/L) for women of child-bearing age (18 to 49) in the general population from the CHMS (2009–2011) and for women in the first trimester of pregnancy from the MIREC study (2008–2011).

Figure 5: Text description
Biomonitoring initiative Geometric mean
CHMS 1.2
MIREC study 0.8

Concentrations of BPA were higher in women of child-bearing age in the general population than in women in the first trimester of pregnancy in cities across Canada.

Comparison of the Canadian and U.S. populations

Figure 6. BPA concentrations in the Canadian and U.S. populations.

This figure shows the geometric mean concentrations of BPA in urine (µg/L) in the Canadian population from the CHMS (2007–2019) and in the U.S. population from the NHANES (2007–2016). Note that there are slight differences between the surveys in sampling (such as the age ranges of participants) and analysis (such as the limits of detection).

Figure 6: Text description
Biomonitoring initiative Collection period Geometric mean
CHMS 2007–2009 1.2
CHMS 2009–2011 1.2
CHMS 2012–2013 1.1
CHMS 2014–2015 1.0
CHMS 2016–2017 0.81
CHMS 2018–2019 0.68
NHANES 2007–2008 2.1
NHANES 2009–2010 1.8
NHANES 2011–2012 1.5
NHANES 2013–2014 1.3
NHANES 2015–2016 1.1

Concentrations of BPA were higher in the U.S. population than in the Canadian population. However, the difference between countries has decreased over time.

Suggested citation

Health Canada. 2021. Bisphenol A (BPA) in Canadians. Ottawa, ON. Available: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/environmental-workplace-health/reports-publications/environmental-contaminants/human-biomonitoring-resources/bisphenol-a-canadians.html

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