Exposure to BPA must be reduced, say scientists

Letter to EFSA: The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) has added its name to a letter to European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) calling for a reduction in human exposure to the synthetic chemical, Bisphenol A (BPA). (1)

The signatories, which include professors and scientists from US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain,

Switzerland and UK and more than 40 international and national health groups, welcome the fact that the current review is taking into account a large number of studies in its opinion on BPA due to be published in early July 2010.

The opinion from EFSA has been delayed to take into account "hundreds of studies" and the "most recent scientific literature", according to the EFSA website. (2) The Open Letter from scientists and NGOs says that "Only a tiny minority of studies have articulated that BPA exposure is safe… but it is these few flawed studies that EFSA previously relied on to declare BPA safe."

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The letter was published on Wednesday as EFSA is due to issue a new scientific opinion on the safety of BPA in food contact materials in early July. The European Commission asked the scientific body to assess the latest findings on the issue.

EFSA previously declared BPA safe. According to the letter's signatories, "only a tiny minority of studies have articulated that BPA exposure is completely safe, and many… have been criticised in academic commentaries…but it is these few flawed studies that EFSA previously relied on [to deliver its advice].

This seems to contradict preliminary findings published in early June by France's national institute for health and medical research (Inserm), which said it will take years before it can be proven that BPA has long term impacts on human reproduction.

The letter refers to several new studies raising risks of exposure relating to increased likelihood of, for example, developing diabetes and breast cancer. "Any objective and comprehensive review of the scientific literature will lead to the conclusion that action is necessary to reduce the levels of BPA exposure," the authors say.

An increasing number of countries are taking action to address such risks. In May, French MPs backed a temporary ban the use of BPA in baby feeding bottles. In June, the German environment agency issued guidance encouraging manufacturers, importers and users to use alternative substances.

In May, Swedish environment minister Andreas Carlgren said that, if the EU did not quickly ban the hormone disrupting substance bisphenol in baby bottles, Sweden would "precede with a national prohibition". US and Canadian regulators have already taken action to limit BPA exposure.