Bisphenol A Controversy: FDA Says It’s Safe

Despite rising concerns about toxic side effects, parents don't need to throw away plastic baby bottles containing the chemical, bisphenol A, or BPA, government scientists revealed.

The advisory committee appointed by the FDA to study the effects of bisphenol-A (BPA), a chemical commonly used in hard plastics and food containers found that the evidence was not conclusive enough to impose a ban on use the chemical.

Bisphenol A (BPA), is a chemical commonly used in plastic products to make them hard, shatterproof and also helps prevent can corrosion.

Because of its quality to make plastic tough, BPA is used in the manufacturing of eye and head gear like goggles and helmets, pacifiers, liners of baby formula cans and baby feeders and plastics containers.

"We do not see a need to change baby bottles," Norris Alderson, the FDA’s Associate Commissioner for Science said.

FDA’s scientific task force comes into action after a report released by the National Toxicology Program (NTP) raised concern about the possible health effects of BPA.

In April this year, based on the studies conducted on rats, the results suggested that there was ‘enough' of a risk to warrant ‘some concern’.

Exposure to the chemical Bisphenol A was linked to health and developmental problems like early puberty, changes in the prostate gland and behavioral changes in young children. It was also related to lower survival and birth weight in fetuses.

"The possibility that Bisphenol A may alter human development cannot be dismissed," John R. Bucher, associate director of the National Toxicology Program said.

Meanwhile, experts argue that earlier studies were conducted under unrealistic conditions and reported higher release levels than projected, the results cannot be completely conclusive.

So, as of now the FDA’s scientific task force clears the allegations and reports "we concluded that the current level of exposure to adults and children is safe." Though the reviewing will be ongoing, Alderson concluded.

American manufacturers like Toys "R" Us and Wal-Mart, are already phasing out the use of the chemical in some of their products.