Monday, February 15th, 2010

Federal Agencies to Study Bisphenol A:  Delayed Response to a Dangerous Chemical

Bisphenol A is a is found in many types of plastics used in numerous products, including the lining of food cans and baby bottles.  Government reports issued in the last few years questioned its safety. Recently a study published in the September 2008 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Associaton (JAMA) showed that higher urine levels of BPA are associated with heart disease, diabetes and liver damage.   BPA is an endocrine disruptor, which means it mimics the effects of human hormones, the chemical messengers that regulate our bodies.

None of this is news.  There has been an abundance of troubling scientific evidence to raise concern over the health risks of exposure to this toxic chemical in a wide variety of common products for years.  Since exposure at a young age is dangerous, its use in baby bottles has been especially worrisome.   BPA may play a role in a variety of common cancers, including breast and prostate cancer and disturb normal thyroid gland functioning.

GOVERNMENT DECIDES TO ACT                                                                                                                                                                                                                The Department Human Health and Services recently announced that the effects of BPA will be studied in short- and long-term trials in humans and animals.  A "growing body of evidence" indicates BPA exposure may be harmful, according to the director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Science, but more data are needed on potential effects, which could involve a wide range of medical disorders. $30 million will be provided for these studies with results provided in 12 to 24 months.

FAILURE TO APPLY THE PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE                                                                                                                                                             The ponderous pace of government and medical bureaucracies appears to be be picking up, but there is a clear lack of political wherewithal to address this and other toxic exposure issues head-on and protect human life.  "Growing bodies of evidence" should not only trigger "more research" ,  it should prompt the immediate banning of  hazardous chemicals, until more research can be done to prove their safety. Waiting around for years for more studies  probably puts millions of people at risk.  Fortunately, the six major manufacturers of baby bottles and infant feeding cups have voluntarily kept BPA out of their products since January 2009.  This should have happened years ago.

WE'RE ON OUR OWN                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         When it comes to avoiding exposure to a multitude of potentially toxic chemicals in our environment that may be harmful to human health, we're still mostly on our own.  Continuing to insist on proof of harm rather than proof of safety while allowing the continued human exposure to hazardous chemicals likely dooms thousands to needless suffering and death.  The wise and moral application of the precautionary principle directs us to a more proactive approach to protecting human life.   Indeed, the authors of the JAMA study criticized the FDA for relying on old data with outdated methodologies to justify their footdragging position on BPA.

SIMPLE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES                                                                                                                                                                                                        In the meantime, you can limit exposure to BPA by avoiding the use of cans or plastic containers unless they are marked "bisphenol A free."  Also avoid microwaving food in plastic containers and washing plastic containers in the dishwasher.  Thermal paper contains high levels of BPA, so make sure you minimize contact with store receipts etc.  Recent research also suggests that drugs like naproxen and aspirin hampers the body's ability to biotransform and excrete BPA from the body.  Regular daily use of these drugs is usually best avoided.