You may be scratching your head about the highly controversial chemical bisphenol A (BPA), found in many everyday products (like plastic containers and the linings of some food and formula cans) — and for very good reason. A lot of this year's news about BPA has been just as conflicting as it is alarming.
Last month the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) came out with a draft report saying that the chemical is safe. But now, the National Toxicology Program (NTP), a fellow government agency that's part of the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services' National Institutes of Health, is officially declaring (after suggesting earlier this year) that BPA may not be safe. So, what's a worried parent to believe?
On the one hand, the current position of the FDA is that the miniscule amounts that leach into BPA-containing food containers aren't hazardous. According to a draft report by the FDA, "an adequate margin of safety exists for BPA at current levels of exposure from food contact uses, for infants and adults." But the FDA has not looked into how the chemical in other types of products may or may not have an effect.
On the other hand, the NTP released a finalized report after government scientists reviewed a draft of findings released in April of this year — that was the first federal U.S. report questioning the safety of the widely used chemical. In its official report the NTP says that "the possibility that human development may be altered by [BPA] at current expo?sure levels cannot be dismissed."
Specifically, the NTP report says there's:
- "some concern" that BPA at "current human exposures" could cause effects in fetuses, babies, and children like behavioral and brain problems
- "minimal concern" that BPA may cause early breast growth and puberty in girls
- "negligible concern" that BPA exposure in moms-to-be can cause fetal or newborn deaths, birth defects, low birth weight, or growth problems in babies
The NTP's report is controversial because: 1) some of the report's recommendations differ from those of the FDA, and 2) its recommendations are based on data from studies done in animals, not in people. Animals metabolize BPA differently than humans and there's a lot of question about taking animal data and equating it with human risk.
One thing's for sure: Both the FDA and the NTP agree that more research is needed. The FDA will address the issue again when its draft report is reviewed by federal scientists, just as the NTP report was.
More on BPA
According to the NTP report, we may breathe in dust and air containing BPA or absorb the chemical through our skin when we swim or bathe. But almost all (99%) of our exposure to BPA is through our diet — from the chemical potentially leaching into what we eat and drink.
That's because BPA is used in:
- polycarbonate plastics (usually clear, hard items like baby and water bottles, disposable tableware, CD packaging, certain medical devices, and some safety equipment; these plastics can also be molded with other materials to make things like household items and parts for cars and mobile phones)
- epoxy resins (used in the tops of bottles, in water pipes, and inside many food cans and infant formula cans)
- certain dental sealants (which only cause short-term exposure)
BPA exposure is widespread in kids and adults alike — a 2003-2004 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found BPA in almost 95% of more than 2,500 people (ages 6 and up). The chemical is also often present in breast milk and pregnant women's blood.
Infants and kids have the highest daily intake of BPA and many other widely detected environmental chemicals. That's because babies and young children consume and breathe more, pound for pound, than grown-ups. Plus, children (especially infants and toddlers) spend more time on the floor crawling and playing and often mouth on plastics and inadvertently ingest dirt that may contain many common chemicals.
What This Means to You
The FDA has said "there is no reason to recommend that consumers stop using products that contain BPA while the agency carries out its assessment process. But concerned consumers should know that several alternatives to polycarbonate baby bottles exist, including glass baby bottles."
Still, the unknown about potential problems is enough to make parents sufficiently worried. And some companies and government entities are thinking it's better to be safe than sorry:
- Canada became the first country to officially ban the chemical from baby bottles.
- Some states, like California, are considering legislation that would ban or limit BPA.
- Some major companies (like Wal-Mart, Toys 'R' Us, and Playtex) have said they will no longer make or sell BPA-containing products.
It's too soon to say, definitively, whether products containing BPA are harmful to children at the levels to which most kids are exposed. Until we have clear answers about what the chemical does and doesn't do and federal officials can come to an agreement about recommendations regarding the chemical, here are some ways to reduce exposure to BPA in your home if you're concerned:
- For plastic containers, bottles, and sippy cups:
- Look at the bottom for the recycling code (the number inside the triangle). Those with the number 7 (or say PC) are made of polycarbonate and may contain BPA.
- If you use refillable water coolers at home or at work, look at the bottom of the bottle for recycling code number 7. Find out if the water company sells bottles that don't contain polycarbonate plastics.
- Don't microwave them — increased heat can cause the chemical to "migrate into" food and drinks.
- Find out if they're dishwasher safe (and, if so, whether they should washed on the top rack or bottom).
- Call the manufacturer of your baby's infant formula to find out if they use epoxy resin inside their cans.
- Buy frozen or fresh fruits and vegetables if you're concerned about the lining inside canned foods.
- Try to use glass and/or stainless steel instead of plastic food containers, bottles, and kids' cups. You can opt for tempered glass, which won't break as easily.
- Buy products that say they're "BPA-free."
If you have questions or concerns about any products you're using (or have used) at home, talk to your doctor for advice and recommendations on how to get more info.
Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: September 2008
Sources: "NTP-CERHR Monograph on the Potential Human Reproductive and Developmental Effects of Bisphenol A," National Toxicology Program (part of the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services), September 2008. "Draft Assessment of Bisphenol A for Use in Food Contact Applications," Food and Drug Administration, Aug. 15, 2008.
