Blog
More News on BPA and Regulatory Failure
Janelle Sorensen
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
A few days ago, the US Food and Drug Administration released their draft report on the safety of bisphenol A, or BPA, concluding that current levels in cans and baby bottles are safe. Opponents of the report claim the decision was based on industry funded studies. “It’s ironic FDA would choose to ignore dozens of studies funded by (the National Institutes of Health) — this country’s best scientists — and instead rely on flawed studies from industry,” Pete Myers, chief scientist for Environmental Health Sciences, told The Associated Press.
Healthy Child joined the chorus of health advocates decrying the report and, among other media outlets, CNN’s Lou Dobbs highlighted this glaring failure of the FDA.
The FDA report was in part due to consumer concern and a recent report by the US Department of Health and Human Services that determined there was too little known about BPA to be able to declare it safe and that “the possibility that bisphenol A may alter human development cannot be dismissed.” An FDA Scientific Subcommittee will be meeting on September 16 to review the report and listen to public presentations.
Two points that make one question the validity or credibility of FDA conclusions on BPA (or any toxicological matter):
• In December, a scientific subcommittee of the FDA reported, after a year long review, that two decades of inadequate funding have rendered the FDA’s scientific capacity insufficient to meet the growing demands of ensuring the public's health and safety. The 300 page report cites, among other things, the agency’s inability to keep up with advances in science and the increasing complexities of the products it is meant to regulate.
• The current Science Board roster of 12 includes four reps from Coca-Cola, Eli Lilly (a pharmaceutical giant), Nodality Inc. (a biotech company), and Mars Inc. (candy and food producers, one of the largest privately owned corporations in the US); seven experts in fields such as veterinary sciences and nutrition; and only one expert toxicologist.
Even if you’re not an expert toxicologist, the general implications of the latest research ring enough alarm bells for regulation to err on the side of caution, safety, and human health.
• An August 14th study published in Environmental Health Perspectives found that BPA at levels well-within the range of common human exposure suppress levels of a hormone that protects people from metabolic syndrome (associated with obesity) and its consequences: heart disease and Type 2 diabetes.
• An April 1st study published in Cancer Research found that exposure to BPA increased tumor aggressiveness and poor patient outcome.
And these are just the two most recent. There are hundreds of others that FDA conveniently overlooked (claiming they were flawed) in favor of two industry-sponsored studies.
Know what? Parents are sick of this tired storyline and just like we worked together to make huge changes in the CPSC, we’ll work together to get the FDA the makeover it needs, too. Look out; here we come…
Posted by TPP on 10/07/2008 at 08:10 AM
Thanks Janelle!
Posted by Janelle Sorensen on 10/06/2008 at 01:42 PM
BPA is indeed in dental sealants and there’s little to no research on potential health effects. The Green Guide did a great piece on the issue and here are their recommendations:
“What You Can Do
*Prevent cavities by brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, flossing daily, limiting sugary snacks and having regular dental check-ups. To prevent fluorosis, children under six should not use fluoridated mouthwashes (see GG #110). To help prevent early childhood tooth decay, see the ADA’s tips at www.ada.org/prof/resources/positions/statements/caries.asp.
*If a dentist suggests sealants for you or your child, ask why, whether it’s necessary on baby teeth and whether decay may be avoided by improving diet and hygiene first.
*If you are considering sealants, ask your dentist or call the manufacturer to check for BPA. Composite fillings can also contain this chemical.
*To limit childhood exposures, ask your dentist to help you find BPA-free sealants.
*If you decide on sealants, immediately after the sealant is applied, chew on a cotton pad to induce saliva and then spit out as much as you can into the sink.
*If you need a filling, choose a composite: BPA exposures are low and not released continually, as mercury is.”
Find their whole article at http://www.thegreenguide.com/doc/115/healthnews/3
Posted by TPP on 09/04/2008 at 06:07 PM
Thanks for the important information. Isn’t BPA also a major component of the dental sealants now recommended for young children? Are there current studies about the exposure risks and safety of the sealants?
Posted by Aquene Freechild on 09/04/2008 at 12:26 PM
The Bush Administration has put former industry lobbyists in all the key decision-making positions and has forced so many balanced science-oriented civil servants to resign. How can we be surprised by the results of a non-working regulatory system? We will have to get the next administration to undo all of this. Dow Chemical, the largest US chemical manufacturer of Bhopal Chemical disaster fame (which has killed 23,000 to date and continues to poison thousands daily), is the 2nd largest BPA manufacturer - is it any wonder that their money has quashed regulation? We must get corporate money out of politics.
More on Bisphenol A:
http://www.thetruthaboutdow.org/article.php?list=type&type=34
Catalogue of News coverage of the BPA issue:http://www.thetruthaboutdow.org/search.php?q=bisphenol+a
Posted by Stephanie on 09/04/2008 at 12:18 PM
This doesn’t surprise me. Citizens of the U.S are lab mice for the FDA, AMA the ACS, the NCI, the SGKF, and every other organization that proclaims to protect the people and wants to “help” them. We simply cannot trust anyone who thinks that we are stupid and will just believe anything we hear on T.V. or anything from a representative of the above mentioned. There will never be a cure for cancer! We waste money trying to find a cure when we should be preventing it, HOW? Don’t use BPA and a long list of other things that goes right along with that, “but it’s too hard, and too inconvenient we all whine and moan”, then guess what…we continue to suffer in sick bodies that we should take care of and respect.
Posted by Alla on 09/04/2008 at 10:22 AM
I am exceptionally upset with our government for not stepping in and not protecting the citizens from the silent evil, BPA - it is everywhere, and it is extremely dangerous. I am voicing my protest, as most European communities have already banned BPA from any kind of production.
Posted by Tony on 08/22/2008 at 05:29 PM
Janelle - awesome post with some great research! Here’s more reading on BPA from Google
http://knol.google.com/k/billy-fingers/bisphenol-a-bpa-what-it-is-where-its/2plpskfyc9o9n/2#
Posted by Talli van Sunder, DPT on 08/21/2008 at 07:14 PM
I am very disappointed in the FDA ruling. Don’t they care about the safety of our kids? BPA is a hazardous substance that is known to be a hormone disruptor. I am worried that kids who are exposed to small quantities of BPA in several items a day will be harmed. If I were you I would buy only products that are BPA free.
Posted by Sommer-GreenandCleanMom on 08/21/2008 at 06:58 PM
Janelle,
Thank your for this post. I have stumbled it and I am submitting it to all my 400 twitter followers! I wrote a post title BPA War because of just this issue and the FDA report. Moms are actually buying into the industry and their efforts to stop the bans and support the industry and bpa. It is scary.
More comments:
Get Answers
View All
Read and Learn
It's the trusted guidebook for the Next Generation of Parenting "...that every single parent needs to read..."
PICK UP A COPY
Now In Paperback!
Archives by Month
What We Read
Posted by jessica on 12/02/2008 at 08:24 PM
This is the article that should be read by each and every individual and should be more aware of this in order to avoid the problems. Why? Because prevent is better than cure .Thanks for sharing the important news through this article.