The Scientific Committee on Health, Environmental and Emerging Risks of the European Commission released the Preliminary Opinion in July. The Opinion was open for comments until September. NIOM scientist, Ellen Bruzell, served as external expert in the preparation of the Preliminary Opinion.

The European Commission’s independent Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) recently published its risk assessment of exposure to BPA via medical devices that are manufactured with materials that potentially leach BPA leading to oral (via dental material), subcutaneous and intravenous (e.g. during hemodialysis) routes of exposure.

The European Commission asked its independent Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) to provide a risk assessment on dental amalgam and alternatives such as resin-based composites, glass ionomer cements, ceramics and gold alloys to update the SCENIHR’s 2008 Opinion in light of new developments and data.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a key building block of polycarbonate plastic and a precursor for the manufacturing of monomers of epoxy resins. The BPA exposure of the general population is via food as a result of the use of BPA in food packaging and via skin as a result of contact with thermal paper. The vast majority of the population (91–99%) has detectable levels of BPA-conjugates in their urine. BPA is also present in medical devices including implants, catheters, tubing, and some dental materials.