A new study has found that a chemical present in plastic bottles may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Research published in the journal Diabetes found that bisphenol A (BPA), used in food and beverage packaging such as plastic water bottles, may make the body less sensitive to insulin, the hormone that regulates blood sugar levels.

Insulin sensitivity refers to how effectively the body’s cells respond to insulin. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels.

High insulin sensitivity allows cells to use blood sugar efficiently, thereby lowering blood sugar spikes. Low insulin sensitivity, or insulin resistance, increases the risk of high blood sugar and type 2 diabetes.

These findings will be presented at the American Diabetes Association’s 2024 Scientific Sessions. They suggest that the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should reconsider safe levels of BPA in bottles and food containers.

Previous studies have shown that BPA can affect hormones in humans, but this is the first study to directly show that exposure to BPA may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes in adults.

Researchers at California Polytechnic State University studied 40 healthy adults by giving them either a placebo or about 50 micrograms of BPA per kilogram of body weight daily, which is currently considered a safe dose by the EPA.

After four days, those who had taken BPA showed a reduced response to insulin, while the placebo group saw no change.

The researchers said, “These results suggest that the current EPA safe dose of BPA should be reconsidered, and doctors may need to advise patients accordingly.”

To reduce the risk of diabetes, he suggested using alternatives like stainless steel or glass bottles and BPA-free containers.

Plastic bottles are widely used because they are convenient, but more research is showing that their chemical components may be harmful to health.

Another recent study published in the journal Eco-Environment and Health found that plastic water bottles left in the sun can release harmful chemicals. The study looked at volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from six types of plastic water bottles exposed to sunlight and found that some bottles released highly toxic chemicals, including known cancer-causing substances like n-hexadecane.

These findings suggest that strict regulations are needed to reduce exposure to these harmful chemicals.

“This is just the beginning of why we need better public health recommendations and policies,” said Robert Gabbay, MD, chief scientific and medical officer for the American Diabetes Association (ADA).