Expert: BPA Allegations In Galon Drinking Water Can Cause Health Disorders Not Yet Proven

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Misinformation related to health problems caused by BPA (Bisphenol-A) contained in AMDK (Fighty Drinking Water) is still circulating in the community. Various information related to the dangers of BPA is often presented incompletely, tends to be sensational, and most dangerous, not based on scientific evidence.

BPA itself is the raw material for making polycarbonate and epoch types of plastic. Because of its benefits, BPA is not only used in drinking water packaging, but is also found in many items around us.

In addition to food packaging, BPA is also used for thermal paper on ATM/study receipts, CDs, sports equipment, to medical equipment such as catheter hoses and dental patches. The low public understanding of BPA, including the types of plastic used as food packaging, makes misinformation more easily spread and creates a wrong understanding.

To avoid the spread of misinformation, the public is advised to get used to seeking complete and comprehensive information, and always looking for comparative information.

DR. Devie Rahmawati, M. Hum., Social Observer, University of Indonesia explained, misinformation or hoaxes often use expert faces or portraits as a form of affirmation, although in the context their expertise may be irrelevant or even these experts do not exist (fictitious). Devie emphasized the impact of the dangers of misinformation.

"There can be confusion, failure, ignorance, and social conflict. Do not be easily consumed by circulating issues that cannot be trusted. There are many ways to check facts," he said, quoted on Tuesday, November 19.

The misinformation that is widely circulated says that the BPA can be eroded in gallon bottled drinking water and can endanger health. In fact, some scientific studies prove otherwise.

Prof. Dr. Nugraha Edhi Suyatma, S.T.P., DEA, Professor of Engineering at the IPB Food Packaging Process, on one occasion said that so far, no study has proven that the content of BPA was found in gallon bottled drinking water.

"The latest research conducted by ITB researchers did not find BPA in gallons of drinking water from four brands that were widely consumed in Indonesia. The results were not detected through the most sensitive tools," he explained.

"From the results of the study, it shows that the content of BPA in gallons of drinking water is almost gone, and what is left is not easily chaotic. The potential for lurruh only occurs in very extreme conditions, for example, if heated at a temperature of more than 250 degrees Celsius," he explained.

In fact, in the production process of AMDK there is no heating process that occurs. It is only possible to be exposed to the sun in the distribution process, even then with temperatures below 50 degrees Celsius. Therefore, the risk of BPA migration to drinking water from its packaging will be very small.

"People don't need to worry about the risk of exposure to BPA on gallons of packaging made from polycarbonates. If you have obtained a BPOM distribution permit, it is a guarantee that the product is safe for consumption," said Nugraha.

There Is No Scientific Evidence Of BPA In Galon Drinking Water Disturbing Health

BPA is often accused of being one of the causes of risk health problems. BPA is considered to cause infertility, hormonal disorders, trigger cholesterol and cause cancer. However, some experts in the health sector are supported by scientific research, have different views.

Kedungan and Kebidanan Specialist from Tzu Chi Hospital, dr. Ervan Surya, Sp.OG confirmed that until now there has been no conclusive scientific study regarding the influence of BPA's lurus on infertility. Even based on the results of the study he found, there was no correlation between BPA and fertility disorders.

"Infertility can occur due to the influence of an unhealthy lifestyle, such as smoking, and too heavy exercise. Smoking has clearly proven to be one of the causes of fertility disturbances, but it seems that people are not worried about this, instead they tend to panic with other issues that have not been proven the truth of scientific facts, for example this BPA," Ervan added.

Dijelaskan pada kesempatan yang berbeda oleh Dokter Pemilik Dalam Ahli Endokrin-Metabolic Dr. dr. Laurentius Aswin Pramono Sp.PD-KEMD.

"There is no agreement at all that BPA causes diabetes or cancer. There is no evidence of scientific research in humans, there is only research in laboratories with animals," he explained.

Aswin emphasized that the issue that BPA causes diabetes, high cholesterol, cancer, infertility and others is a misleading myth.

"No one of these diseases is caused by BPA. The cause of diabetes is not BPA, but a decrease in insulin production due to an unfavorable lifestyle, and age. Likewise with cancer, infertility, obesity, and various other degenerate diseases," he said.

The human body also has the ability to metabolize various chemicals including BPA. BPA which accidentally enters the body, will be discarded and will not be accumulated in the body.

"The heart or liver can break the BPA chain, then the BPA will be dumped through the digestive tract through the defecation. Some enter the kidneys, and will be thrown through the urine," explained Aswin.

In Indonesia, the government, in this case the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) has set a regulation on the safe threshold for BPA migration, which is a maximum of 0.6 bpj (600 micrograms/kg). When a product has been circulated in the market, it means that the product has obtained permission and complied with applicable government regulations, so that it is safe for public consumption.

Even though the BPA has actually collapsed on drinking water in a gallon of polycarbonate, it is certain that the figure will be very small and far below the threshold set by BPOM.

"It takes 10,000 liters of water in one drink to be able to get BPA levels that exceed the safe threshold. That's impossible," said Aswin.

Aswin added that drinking water packaged in gallons of polycarbonates is a product that has been consumed across the ages for years. There is no strong evidence that so far there is a risk to public health.

The public does not need to worry about something because it is influenced by issues that are not clear, while health risk factors that have clearly been proven, such as smoking habits, lack of exercise, poor eating patterns, and consuming alcohol are actually ignored.