SHOULD WE TRUST FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (FDA) ?

Bisphenol A (BPA) is used to make polycarbonate plastics that are shatter-resistant and optically clear. These are found in baby bottles, some water bottles, dental sealants, dinnerware, eyeglasses, and in CDs. BPA is also used to make the resin that lines tin cans. This chemical has been shown to cause breast cancer, testicular cancer, diabetes, obesity, hyperactivity, low sperm counts, miscarriage and a host of other reproductive failures in lab animals. This gave rise to concerns that low-level exposure might cause similar effects in human beings.

Its known that BPA is manufactured by Bayer MaterialScience, Dow Chemical Company, General Electric, Hexion Specialty Chemicals, and Sunoco Chemicals. I read that General Electric Co. sold its plastic section last year.

In 1998, Envirnomental protection agency (EPA) had set a one year deadline for itself to screen 15,000 suspected endocrine disruptors including BPA but failed to do so. Ten years passed and the EPA is yet to screen its first chemical. It should be noted that EPA has already spent $18 million for the endocrine disruptor screening program without screening a single chemical!

In 2007, scientists funded by National institute of environmental health sciences (NIEHS) directly studied BPA and raised great concern for BPA. On the other hand, NTP (National toxicology program) panel of scientists who did not directly study BPA but evaluated the other studies concluded BPA to be safe. The watchdog report of Journal Sentinel found that the studies the NTP panel considered were chosen, in part, by a consultant with links to firms that made bisphenol A. To read the article, click here.

Now, in 2008, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says Bisphenol A to be safe. Some of the US senators including John Kerry (D-MA) and Charles Schumer (D-NY) have introduced a bill to ban BPA from children's products and direct the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to study the chemical's human health effects.

Here are some ways to protect us until the state or federal laws outlaw BPA in consumer products:
1) use baby bottles or water bottles that say BPA-free, or use glass or stainless steel bottles.
2) minimize the consumption of canned food and beverages.
3) do not use the type 7 plastic containers that says #7 in a triangle on the bottom.

At this time I remember what my brother wrote on his blog: only 5 chemicals have been banned in the US in the last 30 years: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC), Dioxin, Asbestos, and Hexavalent chromium. If you are interested in reading stuff related to harmful chemicals, click here.