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Heightened Concern Over BPA |
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Written by Editorial, The New York Times
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Wednesday, 20 January 2010 |
"While waiting for the regulators to amass more conclusive evidence, wise consumers will try to avoid BPA."
In August 2008, the Bush-era F.D.A. released a draft report asserting that the small amounts of BPA that leach into milk or food are not dangerous. One month later, the National Toxicology Program, an interagency assessment group, came to a less reassuring conclusion. It expressed “some concern” — midway between “negligible concern” and “serious concern” — about the potential effects on the brain, behavior and prostate in fetuses, infants and children. Now the F.D.A. has also expressed “some concern” about the same risks.
Still, the message remained murky. Health officials said they have no proof that the chemical has harmed either children or adults. They have not taken any regulatory action to curb its use. Nor have they urged families to change their use of infant formula or foods because the benefit of good nutrition outweighs the potential risk from BPA exposure.
Instead, the two agencies will conduct crucial research on the safety of BPA over the next 18 to 24 months to reduce “substantial uncertainties” in assessing the risks of low-dose exposures. And the F.D.A. will seek more robust and flexible regulatory authority to clamp down on the chemical if the evidence warrants.
Meanwhile, the agency is suggesting ways that people can limit exposure to BPA (such as not putting very hot liquids into bottles or cups containing BPA). The six largest manufacturers, in response to consumer preferences, are already producing baby bottles without BPA.
Canada has banned BPA from children’s products. And several states, counties and local jurisdictions have bans or restrictions on several uses of BPA in various products. Bills are pending in Congress to do the same.
While waiting for the regulators to amass more conclusive evidence, wise consumers will try to avoid BPA.
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