A new study has revealed that a key chemical used in the production of plastic bottles increases the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Published in the journal Diabetes, the research shows that Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical frequently used in food and drink packaging, including plastic water bottles, can reduce the body’s sensitivity to insulin, the hormone that regulates sugar metabolism.

These findings, which will be presented at the 2024 Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association, suggest that the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should reconsider the safe exposure limits for BPA in bottles and food containers. Previous research has already shown that BPA, used in plastic and epoxy resins, can disrupt human hormones.

Although earlier studies have linked BPA to diabetes, no prior research had directly tested whether BPA exposure increases the risk of diabetes in adults. “These findings are the first to provide evidence that BPA administration may increase type 2 diabetes risk,” said scientists from California Polytechnic State University in a statement.

In the study, researchers randomly assigned 40 healthy adults to receive either a placebo or a daily dose of approximately 50 micrograms of BPA per kilogram of body weight.