-
<h4 class="dechead">On One Hand: Possible Risks
Studies summarized in a 2008 monograph by the National Institutes of Health 2008 report from the National Toxicology Program's Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction (NTP CERHR) examined risks of BPA, a chemical caused by heating polycarbonate plastic. Several countries regulate the use of BPA.
On the Other: Inconclusive Data
BPA makes plastic transparent and shatterproof. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration first approved its use in 1963. The NTP CERHR reports minimal to negligible concerns for BPA in normal adults. Polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins using BPA are used in a wide variety of packaging and containers.
Bottom Line
Although BPA does not accumulate in the body, it mimics estrogens, raising questions about prostate and breast cancers. Concern has been raised in studies reported in the "Journal of the American Medical Association" on its metabolic effects. But today's science considers bottles made with BPA safe.
Source:
NPR: FDA Misses Deadline on BPA Risk Assessment
Resource:
Journal of the American Medical Association:Bisphenol A and Risk of Metabolic Disorders
Scientific American: Plastic (Not) Fantastic
NPR: FDA and JAMA Study Report
Copyright 2023, Wired Ivy, LLC