FDA Reconsiders The Safety of BPA

Bisphenol-A (BPA), the industrial chemical found in many plastic water bottles, some reusable water bottles, plastic forks and the linings of canned goods, is being revisited by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a possible hazardous substance for humans.

In the past, the FDA had concluded that BPA shows little health risk to humans in small doses. This conclusion happened to come from two industry funded studies.

More recently, scientists within and outside of the FDA have been speaking out, pointing to the numerous other studies that did show that BPA poses a risks to human health. There had been literally hundreds of such studies, apparently ignored by the FDA, that indicated various health risks for small dosages of BPA in humans. Canada banned the use of BPA from all products sold in the country as a response.

While the FDA may start asking manufacturers to label containers that contain BPA, there is no signal of a ban yet. Right now, many containers that we often use, contain BPA. Beyond water bottles, BPA is found in the lining of many food cans including some baby formulas.

To make sure the products you buy on a regular basis that contain BPA, visit the Environmental Working Group's guide to avoiding BPA products.

Also, you can tell Congress to pass legislation to ban BPA here.

photo credit: stevendepolo via Flickr.com