Bishenol A
BISPHENOL A SAFETY CHALLENGED: There is consensus among the scientific research community that bisphenol A (BPA), the raw material for polycarbonate (PC), may be an endocrine-disrupting chemical that could be particularly damaging to human embryos and young children, says Frederick S. vom Saal, professor of biology at the University of Missouri (Colombia, MO). The number of research papers published by scientists in journals such as Nature indicating a link between low-dose exposure to BPA and defects in prenatal and young babies has increased from "a handful a few years ago, to more than 90 today," vom Saal says. Vom Saal made his comments last week in London, where he met with opinion-makers to express his concerns about potential health problems associated with BPA at legally permitted exposure levels. The chemical industry says BPA is safe and that BPA levels in PC products such as bottles for feeding babies and food packaging, are not hazardous to humans. "BPA has been safely used for over 40 years and is one of the most extensively studied substances," the American Plastics Council says. See also http://endocrinedisruptors.missouri.edu/vomsaal/vomsaal.html. Chemical Week, 02/02/05, p. 7; Chemistry & Industry (London), 7 February 2005, p. 7.
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