Ew, Toxins Again?

U.S. health agency says ubiquitous chemical may harm kiddos

Posted at 3:24 PM on 16 Apr 2008

A U.S. federal agency has declared that there is "some concern" that chemical bisphenol A can harm the development of children's brains and reproductive systems. The National Toxicology Program, part of the National Institutes of Health, issued a draft report following up on an 18-month review of BPA. The agency reported more concern than was suggested by its advisory panel, which critics alleged was biased toward the chemical industry. BPA can seep from hard plastic beverage containers, including baby bottles, and was detected in the urine of 93 percent of participants in a recent study. In light of the NTP report, congressional Democrats are asking the Food and Drug Administration to reconsider its view that BPA is safe. Canada, for once not beating us to the punch, is expected to issue a similar warning about BPA soon.

sources:  Los Angeles Times, Reuters, The Washington Post, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Associated Press
see also, in Grist:  Umbra advises on plastic water bottles
see also, in Grist:  A special series on parenting and health