Neurological and Behavior Effects of Bisphenol A

Neurological and Behavior Effects of Bisphenol A



Aug. 2007  - Most Americans have never 
heard of the chemical bisphenol A, but everyone who drinks from hard 
plastic bottles or eats canned food has minute amounts of this 
hormone-like chemical in their bodies. 
Now, a federal advisory panel is warning that the chemical could be 
causing neurological and behavior effects in unborn babies and young 
children. 
Bisphenol A is a high production volume chemical used in the production of 
polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. 
Polycarbonate plastics are used in food and drink packaging; resins are 
used as lacquers to coat metal products such as food cans, bottle tops, 
and water supply pipes.

 
The chemical is used in rigid plastic baby bottles, water containers, 
sports drink bottles and microwave dishes. Some polymers used in dental 
sealants and tooth coatings also contain bisphenol A. 
Bisphenol A is known to mimic the effects as the body's own estrogen, the 
primary female sex hormone. 
The panel of 12 government, university and industry scientists was 
convened by the National Toxicology Program's Center for the Evaluation of 
Risks to Human Reproduction, CERHR, to evaluate bisphenol A. 
In March the panel reviewed and assessed more than 500 scientific studies 
on the potential reproductive and developmental hazards of bisphenol A and 
met this week to complete their evaluation. 
The panel confirmed that the chemical can leach from containers into the 
food and drinks they hold. Exposure can occur through direct contact with 
bisphenol A or by exposure to food or drink that has been in contact with 
a material containing bisphenol A. 
While the panel did not call for a ban on bisphenol A, they expressed 
"some concern" that exposure to the chemical while in the womb "causes 
neural and behavioral effects." 
But the panel expressed only "negligible concern" that exposure to 
bisphenol A in the womb produces birth defects and malformations. 
The panel did express concern that exposure to bisphenol A causes neural 
and behavioral effects in children. 
They expressed only "minimal concern" that exposure to bisphenol A causes 
accelerations in puberty.


For adults, the scientists said only for highly exposed groups, such as 
people who work with the chemical, is there "minimal concern." 
CERHR director Michael Shelby said people who wish to limit their exposure 
can avoid storing food or beverages in hard transparent plastic and can 
also avoid canned goods. 
Some scientists were critical of the panel's work and accused the body of 
using inadequate or unpublished studies while ignoring other relevant 
research. 
University of Missouri Biology Professor Frederick vom Saal, who has 
published research on the adverse effects of bisphenol A, said an interim 
report on the panel's work after its meeting in March, "contained numerous 
factual errors" reflecting a "blatant pro-industry bias." 
The panel's expression of concern comes one week after a consensus 
statement on bisphenol A by 38 independent scientists, published by the 
journal "Reproductive Toxicology," warning of "a great cause for concern 
with regard to the potential for similar adverse effects in humans." 
The city of San Francisco banned the sale of baby bottles and other 
products for young children containing bisphenol A in June 2006, effective 
December 2006, and was at the time the only jurisdiction in the world to 
make the substance illegal. The ban was never enforced, and in May the 
city repealed it. 
The advisory panel's report will next go out for public comment. Then the 
National Toxicology Program will issue a peer-reviewed statement on the 
safety of bisphenol A for the consideration of state and federal 
regulatory agencies. 

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