Following the release of a report conducted
by the Food and Drug Administration showing that the levels of bisphenol A
(BPA) in baby bottles and other household products are safe despite serious
evidence that the chemical might cause cancer or lead to early or delayed
puberty, The National Toxicology Program (NTC) released a final report saying they
have “some concern” the chemical is linked to health and developmental
problems.
Hard polycarbonate plastic is used in baby
bottles, toddler cups, water bottles and other recipients. There are many
environmental groups that say the chemical can hurt children and animals.
Consumer safety groups say that BPA, which is a synthetic hormone similar to
estrogen, can interfere with how the body absorbs the natural hormone estrogen,
which is needed in the development of young bodies.
On the one hand, the final report concludes
that “the possibility that BPA may affect human development cannot be dismissed”
but doesn’t say that BPA should be banned, but points to the need for further
research to understand how the chemical affects human health.
On the other hand, the plastic industry maintains
that food contact products made from polycarbonate plastic including products
for infants and children, can continue to be used safely. The opinion is shared
by the Food and Drug Adminstration.
The NTP’s report notes “some concern” for
effects on the brain, prostate gland and on behaviour in fetuses, infants and
children, “minimal concern” for reproductive effects in adults who work with bisphenol
A and “negligible concern” for fetal or neonatal death, birth defects, or
reduced birth weight and growth in babies born to women exposed to bisphenol A during
pregnancy. Experts also have “minimal concern” the exposure to BPA will affect
the development of mammary glad or accelerate puberty in females.
A report by the U.S. National Institutes of
Health described BPA as “weakly estrogenic,” being suspected of having
biological effects on other hormonal processes such as those involving
androgens and thyroid hormones.
“More research is clearly needed to
understand exactly how these findings relate to human health and development,
but at this point we can’t dismiss the possibility that the effects we’re
seeing in animals may occur in humans. If parents are concerned, they can make
the personal choice to reduce exposures of their infants and children to BPA,” Michael
Shelby, PhD, director of the NTP’s Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human
Reproduction (CERHR), said in a news release.
The National Toxicology Program, which is a
part of the National Institutes of Health, has no power to regulate BPA, but
its findings are useful for the Food and Drug Administration which has the
power to ban the compound. The FDA regulates the compound’s use in plastic food
containers, bottles, tableware and the plastic linings of canned foods.
The FDA is holding a hearing on Sept. 16 to
discuss BPA. There the FDA’s Science Board will discuss the issue with the ones
from The National Toxicology Program.
