In a blog entry posted on May 7, 2015 on the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) Staff Blog (“Switchboard”), Senior Attorney Avinash Kar applauds the designated California scientific expert panel for recommending the State to add bisphenol A (BPA, CAS 80-05-7) to the list of chemicals known to cause reproductive harm (California’s “Proposition 65” list). The State’s experts recommended listing BPA based on their review of substantial new research, evaluating the many studies finding a long list of adverse health effects associated with BPA (summarized in a review published in August 2014, FPF reported). The chemical industry strongly opposed this recommendation, however, they mainly rely on older scientific models not up to date with the latest science and methodologies, the experts noted. The NRDC and its partners had submitted substantial comments to support the listing of BPA as a chemical known to cause reproductive harm. The State of California now needs to decide which products require warning labels and ensure that also “BPA-free” products are safe, Kar says. Therewith he responds to new science showing that BPA replacements may pose similar health risks.
The U.S. chemical industry trade association American Chemistry Council (ACC) disagrees with the California scientific expert panel’s decision as it is contrary to the results provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) comprehensive research that do not support BPA as a reproductive toxicant. The FDA released the findings of an extensive four-year assessment of more than 300 scientific studies of BPA in late 2014 (FPF reported). These findings reaffirm that BPA is safe given it is used according to the FDA’s regulations. Further, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concluded in January 2015 that BPA poses no health risk to consumers of any age group at current exposure levels (FPF reported). Similar organizations in Germany, New Zealand and other countries have publicly declared that BPA is safe at current exposure levels, according to the ACC.
Read more
Avinash Kar (May 7, 2015). “BPA is toxic to women’s reproductive health, says California’s expert scientific panel.” NRDC Staff Blog
ACC (May 7, 2015). “Decision to List BPA on Proposition 65 Contradicts Extensive Scientific Record.”
North American Metal Packaging Alliance (May 7, 2015). “California decision to list BPA out of step with scientific and regulatory
agreement on BPA safety.” (pdf)
References
Singla, V. et al. (April 20, 2015). “RE: Consideration of bisphenol A (BPA) for possible listing based on female reproductive toxicity.” NRDC Staff Blog (pdf)
Bittner, G. D. et al. (2014). “Chemicals having estrogenic activity can be released from some bisphenol a-free, hard and clear, thermoplastic resins.” Environmental Health 2014, 13:103.
