As evidence mounts showing bisphenol A is dangerous to humans, FDA resists taking action

Despite a barrage of criticism from its scientific advisers for ignoring data that shows bisphenol A (BPA) harms human health, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not plan to change its position on BPA but will continue to study it. 

A spokesperson for the FDA told the Washington Post that the agency is planning additional studies of BPA, but couldn't say whether it would take months or years.

Environmental health advocates charge the FDA is wasting time and taxpayer money because enough is known right now to ban BPA from consumer products, especially those used by infants and children, who are most vulnerable from the impact of exposure to the synthetic sex hormone, which is found in plastic food and beverage containers.

"This is science happening in slow motion," said Urvashi Rangan, senior scientist at Consumers Union. "There is a lot of evidence happening out here already to suggest vulnerable populations should not have to continue consuming BPA."

In April, Canada declared BPA a "dangerous substance" and banned its use in baby bottles.

A number of studies have found BPA to be linked to cancer, heart disease, obesity, reproductive failures and hyperactivity in laboratory animals. Bisphenol A is a hormone disrupting chemical and as such can have health effects at extremely low exposure levels.  The FDA has maintained BPA is safe, based largely on two studies funded by industry.

In October, the FDA's science board found that the agency ignored hundreds of independent studies which found BPA caused health problems in children at levels 10 times lower than what the FDA currently deems safe.

The science panel called the FDA’s conclusions “inadequate and recommended that the agency abandon its earlier findings about the safety of the controversial chemical,” according to a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel story.

Federal legislation that would ban BPA in consumer products will likely be reintroduced in the next Congress by Representative Edward Markey (D-MA) and Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY).  Retailers and manufacturers are moving away from BPA products, including Nalgene, Wal-Mart, and Toys R Us.