New $30m study into the safety of BPA

Foodproductiondaily: "Opening yet another chapter in the long running saga about the safety of Bisphenol A (BPA), the US National Institutes of Health is to launch a new $30m study into the safety of the chemical used in metal cans linings, many plastics bottles and sipper cups.

The funds, from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will be spent over two-years on human and animal studies to remedy the research gaps identified by expert scientific panels.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has pledged to release its own assessment of BPA's safety by the end of next month. Until then it maintains that the current guidelines for the use of BPA are sufficient and that the chemical is safe when used in accordance with existing regulations.

But the Environmental Working Group (EWG) believes the FDA already has enough evidence to restrict the exposure of pregnant women and children to BPA.

EWG scientist, Anila Jacob told USA Today: “We can always learn more about BPA, but we have scores of studies showing that low-dose exposure can increase risks."

Meanwhile, in a statement published on the website of The American Council on Science and Health (ACSH), John Doull, Professor of Toxicology, University of Kansas Medical Center, warned that banning BPA devalues science.

Appropriate regulations

“Banning bisphenol A…ignores our proven ability to use science, experience and judgment to establish appropriate regulations for all chemicals including bisphenol A,” he wrote.

“It is clear from the extensive scientific data on bisphenol A that an outright ban cannot be justified from a public health point of view. Our time-tested methods for human health risk assessment permit our regulatory agencies to establish rigorous limits on exposure that provide a wide margin of safety,” added Doull.

It will study low-dose exposures to BPA and effects on behavior, obesity, diabetes, reproductive disorders, asthma, cardiovascular diseases and various cancers. Researchers will also question whether the effects of BPA exposure can be passed from parents to their children."