NTP brief on BPA receives mixed peer review
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NTP released its draft brief in the range of exposure to BPA of Less than 2 months after the U.S. April. Its conclusions were not far the typical human living in a deNational Toxicology Program from the CERHR panel’s results, veloped country.” Another panel, (NTP) released its much-awaited except that it ratcheted up the convened by the NTP Center for draft brief on the human-health level of concern for prostate, the Evaluation of Risks to Human risks of bisphenol A (BPA), the mammary, and early puberty efReproduction (CERHR), conagency’s board of scientific advisfects from “minimal” to “some”. cluded that available scientific ers gave the report a somewhat Many scientists and environevidence pointed to “some conmixed review. In a meeting held mentalists approved of on June 11, the experts NTP’s conclusions, but agreed with NTP’s conscientists representing incern over some of BPA’s dustry groups were not human-health impacts. pleased. In a public comBut, citing a lack of suffiment presented at the cient evidence, the board June 11 meeting, Steven members suggested that Hentges, a representative NTP lower the levels of of the American Chemistry concern for two of the Council, said that, unlike health risks of this estrothe earlier CERHR report, gen-like chemical. The adNTP’s evaluation was “invisory board also pointed consistent” and based on to a missing part of the “inadequate studies.” BPA puzzle—exposure On June 11, as the data for those most vulboard members prepared nerable to BPA: fetuses, to cast their votes on infants, and children. Manufacturers and retailers have responded to public NTP’s draft brief, some This is the latest chapter concern by withdrawing certain BPA-containing products, experts emphasized the in the ongoing saga over such as baby bottles, from stores. urgent need to fill in the this high-production-volmissing part in the BPA ume chemical. Used in cern” for neural and behavioral story. They said that the brief’s polycarbonate plastics and epoxyeffects in pregnant women, feconclusions were based on curbased resins, BPA is found in tuses, and children. NTP uses a rent exposure data from NHANES, many consumer products, includfive-point scale of “negligible” to which did not include people at ing baby bottles, reusable plastic “serious” to rate “concern”. higher risk—infants and children bottles, dental sealants, and even However, the CERHR panel has below the age of 6, and people the dyes on credit-card receipts. been at the center of much dewith liver and gut diseases, who According to data collected by bate. It drew severe criticism for cannot metabolize the compound. the U.S. National Health and hiring a contractor who had The board agreed with NTP’s Nutrition Examination Survey worked for chemical manufacturconclusions that existing scientific (NHANES), 93% of Americans 6 ers to draft the CERHR report. evidence pointed to “some conyears and older have BPA in their NTP fired the contractor, Sciences cern” over neural and behavioral bodies. “It’s pretty amazing that International (SI), but the panel effects and impacts on the develwe are seeing detectable levels in included the work done by SI in opment of the prostate gland in everyone,” notes Katherine Hamits final report. Researchers and male fetuses and infants. But it mond, a member of NTP’s scienenvironmental groups have also also recommended lowering the tific advisory board and a publiccriticized the panel’s inclusion of level of concern for mammary health expert at the University of two non-peer-reviewed studies gland and early puberty effects of California Berkeley. funded by the American Plastics BPA to “minimal”. Although BPA’s toxic impacts Council. It is unknown whether NTP will on human development and reAnd a U.S. congressional comadopt the board’s recommendaproduction at high doses are unmittee is investigating industry tions in its final report, due to be disputed, its low-dose effects are consultants; infant-formula released later this summer. Also highly controversial. manufacturers, for using epoxyunclear is whether NTP’s report Different panels and organizalined cans; and the U.S. Food and would influence U.S. federal regutions have reviewed BPA’s lowDrug Administration’s decision lators’ decision not to regulate the dose effects and arrived at varying not to regulate BPA. chemical. conclusions. Last summer, a Meanwhile, in April, Canada —RHITU CHATTERJEE National Institutes of Health became the first country to depanel concluded that the eviclare the compound toxic and dence shows that some of the adban it from use in baby bottles. verse effects are occurring “within 6312 9 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY / September 1, 2008
10.1021/es801811y
2008 American Chemical Society
Published on Web 07/17/2008
