American Chemistry Council and Food and Drug Administration fight back on BPA scare

The BPA defense

28 May 2008 17:37  [Source: ICB]

The bisphenol A (BPA) outcry, instigated mainly by inaccurate media reporting, has pushed the ACC to fight back and the FDA to investigate the scientific facts

Is the chemical industry right to fight back? Let us know through ICIS connect

Feliza Mirasol/New York

THE MAINSTREAM media is being blamed for the recent BPA scare that has panicked several large consumer retail chains to ban products containing the chemical. The chemical industry has not taken this threat sitting down and is fighting back.

"Recent reports have raised concerns about the use of polycarbonate [PC] plastics and epoxy resins that have unnecessarily confused and frightened the public. Furthermore, interviews conducted by the Today show have set the stage for panic through inaccuracies in reporting," says Sharon Kneiss, vice president of the products division for the American Chemistry Council (ACC).

The outcry stemmed from a report released to the public on April 14 by the National Toxicology Program (NTP), which was a follow-up to a Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction (CERHR) expert panel review completed in 2007.

Both the CERHR expert panel and the NTP reports similarly concluded a low-rate risk, or negligible concern, for adults and some concern for infants and children.

"That is the third-lowest ranking on NTP's five-level scale. Yet the media has mischaracterized the conclusions as suggesting a new direction is being given by NTP about the use of BPA. This is inaccurate," says Kneiss.

Kneiss goes into further detail on the "some concern for infants and children" finding in the NTP report. The NTP states that animal studies "only provide limited evidence," meaning there is not sufficient evidence to conclusively determine whether or not BPA causes damage to health in laboratory animals. "The report also specifically states: 'more research is needed to better understand the implications for human health,'" says Kneiss.

Taken in the context of the NTP's evaluation system and its report, "some concern" means there has been no clearly demonstrated health effect in animal studies. Nor has there been a clearly demonstrated health effect in humans.The main conclusion of the NTP and other government agencies was that human exposure to BPA is far below levels deemed by governments around the world as safe. The NTP report states: "There is no direct evidence that exposure to BPA adversely affects reproduction or development."

"The bottom line of the CERHR expert panel report and the NTP report is that more research is needed before a conclusion can be drawn," says Kneiss.

Meanwhile, earlier this year, the ACC launched its own study that has been designed "in accordance with internationally recognized protocols to explore alleged neural behavioral impacts." The ACC expects results to be published within a year.

"As a mother, I can understand the concern with the confusing and contradictory information about the safety of plastic beverage containers and cans. But as a scientist, I have confidence in what the science says," Kneiss states. "As the manufacturers of plastic products, we are committed to the safety of our products. We owe it to the public to correct the inaccuracies and mischaracterizations about plastic bottles and the materials used in their manufacture," she adds.

FDA GOES TO TASK

In April, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) formed a task force to review current research and new information on BPA for all products regulated by the agency. The task force is looking at both the food and beverage containers at the center of this controversy and the agency's regulatory efforts over the years.

"The task force is conducting an inventory of all products regulated by FDA's food and medical products centers to better understand other potential routes of exposure. We are already looking at the specific concerns raised by NTP in its recent Draft Brief and the draft risk assessment released by Health Canada [in April]," says Norris Alderson, associate commissioner for science at the FDA. Norris testified at a May 14 Senate hearing before the Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs, Insurance, and Automotive Safety, and the Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation.

The FDA states that there is already a large body of available evidence to indicate that BPA-containing food-contact materials now on the market are safe.

"Exposure to BPA from food contact materials is below levels that may cause health effects. If our continuing review of all available data leads us to a determination that the current levels of exposure to BPA are not safe, we will take appropriate action to protect public health," Norris says.

Meanwhile, the FDA is not recommending that consumers stop using food contact materials, such as plastic bottles and cans, that contain BPA.

For the latest chemical news, data and analysis that directly impacts your business sign up for a free trial to ICIS news - the breaking online news service for the global chemical industry.

Get the facts and analysis behind the headlines from our market leading weekly magazine: sign up to a free trial to ICIS Chemical Business.

Printer Friendly