Contradicting FDA, Researchers Find BPA Toxic to Humans at Typical Levels
In contradiction to the FDA’s declaration that BPA is not dangerous, researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham have demonstrated that low levels of BPA given orally to rodents will cause tumors and genetic changes consistent with the early stages of cancer.
The study, led by UAB toxicologist and senior scientist, Coral Lamartiniere, gave female rats levels of BPA that were at or below those normally ingested by humans. The researchers suspect that pre-pubescent girls are especially susceptible to the risks of this chemical.
As we’ve previously noted, the FDA’s crafting of its report last year on BPA was widely criticized as being unduly influenced by the plastics industry and reliant on faulty methods. It will be interesting to see if the FDA takes into consideration this UAB study when reassessing BPA’s potential toxicity this year.
Walmart removes the BPA but leaves the contaminants
While Walmart was one of many companies that removed bottles containing BPA from their shelves, they forgot to look at what was inside those bottles. In a report released last month by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), Sam’s Choice bottled water, produced by Wal-Mart was found to have high levels of contamination including toxic byproducts of chlorination. After testing 10 different bottled water companies in North Carolina, California, Virginia, Delaware and Maryland, EWG discovered that both Sam’s Choice and Acadia of Giant Food supermarkets had higher levels of cancer-causing contaminates than the water industry’s voluntary standards, as well as exceeding legal-limits in California. READ MORE
Scientific panel finds numerous flaws in FDA report on BPA
A scientific panel convened to review the FDA’s conclusion that BPA is not dangerous at current levels found substantial problems with the agency’s methods. While the panel did not address the fundamental question regarding BPA’s safety, it found numerous flaws in the FDA’s report, including that (via NYT’s Well): READ MORE
FDA’s declaration that BPA is not harmful was based on chemical industry’s report
Previously, we’ve looked at the potential dangers of BPA, which is a chemical found in many plastics and aluminum can linings. Our most recent post on the subject noted that the FDA found that the chemical is not dangerous to human health at typical exposure levels. However, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported this week that the FDA’s report was “written largely by the plastics industry and others with a financial stake in the controversial chemical” (italics added). READ MORE
FDA claims BPA is safe for humans
Following up on earlier posts we had about the potential dangers of Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical commonly found in plastic products, the FDA just released a draft report indicating their belief that the chemical is not dangerous to human health at typical exposure levels. The report states: “Safe or safety means that there is reasonable certainty in the minds of competent scientists that the substance is not harmful under the intended conditions of use,” but “complete certainty of absolute harmlessness is scientifically impossible to establish”
This opinion is in line with that issued by the European Food Safety Authority last month, but is still in conflict with the Canadian government’s view of the chemical. Regardless of the FDA’s stance, some companies, such as Walmart and Nalgene, have responded to the public’s concern and have removed certain products containing BPA from their stores and product lines.
Nalgene to drop BPA
In response to consumer concerns over the presence of bisphenol-a in their products, Nalgene, the manufacturer of the popular plastic water bottle has announced they will no longer be selling products that contain the chemical. This decision comes on the heels of reports that the Canadian government is on the verge of declaring BPA “toxic.”
The good news for hippies and other lovers of the ubiquitous “Nalgene bottle” is that the company has found a suitable alternative for the chemical that shares many of the same properties as BPA, such as shatter-resistance, but has not been found to cause health problems.
Unfortunately, this alternative is apparently not a viable option for replacing the BPA currently found inside aluminum food and beverage cans. This plastic lining inside the cans is used to protect the contents from taking on a metallic taste and to extend their shelf life. A spokesman for the North American Metal Packaging Alliance, an industry group in favor of keeping the cans as they are, stated that there is no evidence that these linings expose humans to significant amounts of BPA and that there is currently no viable alternative.
Hat tip: Grist.org
Canada set to declare chemical found in plastic ‘toxic.’
According to reports, the Canadian government is on the verge of declaring BPA (bisphenol), a chemical found widely in plastics used for food and beverage containers, to be toxic. Once declared, such an action would lead to a two year review process which could lead to the partial or complete ban of plastics with the chemical that is used in food related applications.
If released, this determination would make Canada the first country to make an official health ruling that BPA is toxic. While studies have not conclusively proven that the chemical is dangerous to humans, based upon animal studies, it is believed that BPA adversely effects the hormonal systems of humans, like it has been shown to do with animals. There is extra concern regarding the effects of this chemical on developing children.
Currently, the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services is also studying the dangers of BPA and recently released a draft report indicating that there is “some concern” that the chemical could be dangerous to humans and that further research is necessary.
