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Professor Tamara Galloway's research has identified for the first time associations between exposure to one of the world's most widely used chemicals, bisphenol A (BPA), and an elevated risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD), the leading cause of death globally. Specifically the 25% of individuals with highest urinary BPA levels, compared to the 25% with the lowest levels, have a 1.5-2 fold increased risk of developing CVD. This finding has influenced international policy debate and resulted in restrictions on the use of BPA in food contact materials, and is stimulating industry investment into safer chemical alternatives. Furthermore it has raised public awareness of the associated health risks.
Research by Professors David Melzer and Tamara Galloway on the bioactivity of Bisphenol A (BPA) an oestrogenic chemical widely used in plastics, has influenced public policy on an international scale and led to improvements in human health. They demonstrated that BPA is active in the human body at commonly experienced concentrations and that higher exposures are associated with hormonal imbalance and coronary artery disease. The outcomes have stimulated policy debate and led to a reappraisal of the environmental risks associated with BPA exposure. Regulatory authorities across the world are now committed to reducing BPA residues in food and beverages.