NTP Finalizes Report on Bisphenol A
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Brief Description:
The National Toxicology Program has finalized a report on bisphenol
A, or BPA. BPA is a chemical used in many polycarbonate plastics
and epoxy resins.
Transcript:
Balintfy: The National Toxicology Program has
finalized a report on bisphenol A, or BPA. BPA is a chemical
used in many polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins.
Shelby: Polycarbonate plastic is used to make
water bottles as well as baby bottles; and epoxy resin is used
to line metal food cans.
Balintfy: Dr. Michael Shelby is the
Director of the Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction,
or CERHR.
Shelby: And this bisphenol A, the individual
molecules, can leech out of the plastic or the epoxy resin into
food or drink that is contained within these bottles or cans.
In addition, we believe that as the plastic or epoxy resin decomposes,
that additional bisphenol A becomes available to leech out into
food and drink.
Balintfy: The report, released September 3rd,
is part of a lengthy review of the scientific literature on BPA
and takes into consideration public and peer review comments
received on an earlier draft report. The conclusions are based
primarily on a broad body of research involving numerous studies.
According to Dr. John Bucher, Associate Director of the National
Toxicology Program, the key conclusions of the report include
expression of "some concern" over the potential for
developmental toxicicty for fetuses, infants, and children.
Bucher: And this was based primarily on evidence
from animal studies that would suggest that there might be effects
on the development of the prostate gland, and the brain, and
also for the potential for behavioral effects. There was also
a lower level of concern, minimal concern, expressed over potential
for changes in the development of the mammary gland and also
for the age at which females attain puberty. There was also a
level of minimal concern expressed for workers exposed in occupational
settings. But with the exception of that, exposures to adults
were considered to be not particularly risky for exposures to
BPA.
Balintfy: Dr. Bucher adds that the report is
lengthy and detailed. This because there are so many levels of
uncertainty in the information that has been developed on BPA
with regards to its risks for human reproduction and development.
Bucher: The fact that there are so many levels
of uncertainty make it very difficult for us to make any kind
of overall recommendations as to how exactly the U.S. public
should view bisphenol A right at this point, but it clearly has
also identified a number of research areas that we think need
to be followed up on in great detail to give us a better handle
and reduce some of these uncertainties and allow a clearer picture
of exactly what we should be doing as a society with regards
to exposures to BPA.
Balintfy: For more information on BPA, the
National Toxicology Program and its report, visit www.niehs.nih.gov. This
is Joe Balintfy, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.