2008-04-16 07:00:30
By Will DunhamTue Apr 15, 5:42 PM ET
A chemical in some plastic food and drink packaging including baby bottles may
be tied to early puberty and prostate and breast cancer, the U.S. government
said on Tuesday.
Based on draft findings by the National Toxicology Program, part of the U.S.
National Institutes of Health, senior congressional Democrats asked the Food
and Drug Administration to reconsider its view that the chemical bisphenol A is
safe in products for use by infants and children.
The chemical, also called BPA, is used in many baby bottles and the plastic
lining of cans of infant formula.
The National Toxicology Program went further than previous U.S. government
statements on possible health risks from BPA.
It said: "There is some concern for neural and behavioral effects in fetuses,
infants and children at current human exposures." The findings expressed
concern about exposure in these populations, "based on effects in the prostate
gland, mammary gland, and an earlier age for puberty in females."
Rep. John Dingell, a Michigan Democrat and chairman of the House of
Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee, said the draft cast doubt on the
FDA's position that BPA was safe.
"I hope the FDA is willing to reconsider their position on BPA for the safety
of our infants and children," he said.
The National Toxicology Program said laboratory rodents exposed to BPA levels
similar to human exposures developed precancerous lesions in the prostate and
mammary glands, among other things.
"The possibility that bisphenol A may impact human development cannot be
dismissed. More research is needed," the agency said.
Bisphenol A is used in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy
resins and can be found in food and drink packaging as well as compact discs
and some medical devices. Some dental sealants or composites contain it as
well.
The National Toxicology Program expressed "negligible concern" that exposure of
pregnant women to BPA causes fetal or neonatal death, birth defects or reduced
birth weight and growth in babies. It also had "negligible concern" that
exposure causes reproductive problems in adults.
The American Chemistry Council industry group said the conclusions confirmed
that human exposure to bisphenol A is extremely low and noted no direct
evidence that exposure adversely affects reproduction or development in humans.
In Canada, the Globe and Mail newspaper said the Canadian health ministry was
ready to declare BPA a dangerous substance, making it the first regulatory body
in the world to reach such a determination. The newspaper said the ministry
could announce the decision as soon as Wednesday.
Environmental activists long have warned about health concerns regarding the
chemical. They praised the draft findings of the National Toxicology Program,
which cited more potential worries about the chemical than did a panel of
experts that advised the program last year.
"NTP's decision corrects the scientific record. It reflects a significant body
of science showing that BPA may play a larger role than previously thought in a
host of common health problems," Anila Jacob of the Environmental Working Group
said in a statement.