With BPA, Best to Err on the Side of Caution
Published: 23 September 2008
Category: Bisphenol A (BPA), Packaging CONCERNS, Studies/State & Federal Regulations
According to a “New York Times” editorial, with conflicting reports on the potential harmfulness of bisphenol A (BPA)—a chemical used in many plastics and epoxy resins now found in baby bottles and liners for canned goods—it is prudent to err on the side of caution, especially when it comes to children, which means “it is a good idea to keep the young away” from BPA. While the Food and Drug Administration says BPA is not dangerous to human health, the National Toxicology Program, the federal agency for toxicological research, recently reported that their research shows “some concern” about the effects of BPA on the brain development and behavior of fetuses and young children. A new Yale School of Medicine study also finds that tests on primates show that BPA “causes the loss of connections between brain cells” that could cause memory or learning problems and depression.