TBBPA and triclosan cause higher BPA exposure

Humans are exposed to mixtures of chemicals through food, air, water, dust, and household and personal care products. In most cases, little is known about the combined effects of potentially harmful chemicals. A mouse study in Environmental Health Perspectives tested whether one constituent of a chemical mixture might alter tissue levels of the others. If so, the effects of the mixture on the mouse’s health might be different from the effects that would be predicted based on the effects of each chemical by itself. Such information is important when assessing the potential health risks of chemical mixtures to which the public may be exposed.

For their experiment, the researchers selected three chemicals to which the public is often exposed: bisphenol A (BPA), triclosan, and  tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA). BPA, is a component of some plastics and epoxy resins that are used to make food and beverage packaging. Triclosan, is an antibacterial agent found in multiple personal care products and other items, although it has been removed from over-the-counter soaps sold in the United States. TBBPA, a widely used brominated flame retardant, is often found in house dust.