A groundbreaking new study has revealed that a chemical used in plastic packaging for food and drink may be directly linked to an impaired ability to respond to insulin a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar.

The study provides direct evidence that the chemical bisphenol A or BPA can cause insulin resistance in humans, which means chronically high blood sugar levels and a much higher risk of type 2 diabetes, the Business Insider reported.

The study was presented their findings at the 2024 Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association.

The study’s researchers said this study shows that the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) may need to reconsider the safe limits for exposure to BPA in plastic bottles, food containers, and other containers.

Researchers from California Polytechnic State University studied 40 healthy adults who were randomly assigned to receive either a placebo or a daily dose of BPA currently classified as safe by the EPA.

After four days, the participants who were given BPA were less responsive to insulin, while the placebo group did not experience any change.

"These results suggest that maybe the US EPA safe dose should be reconsidered and that healthcare providers could suggest these changes to patients," Todd Hagobian, senior author of the new study, said in a press release.

The Food and Drug Association considers BPA to be safe at low levels occurring in food containers, up to 5 mg per kg body weight per day, or 100 times the amount the new study found to be risky.

Some researchers argue the FDA guidelines are outdated.

Meanwhile, the European Commission has proposed to ban BPA in products that come into contact with food or beverages by the end of 2024.

Furthermore, other recent research indicates that microplastics, tiny particles that can infiltrate human cells, could potentially harm human health. These particles are found in various parts of the body, including the lungs and reproductive organs.