FDA: Controversial chemical in plastics is safe

Friday, August 15, 2008
http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/08/15...ref=rss_health

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Despite ongoing safety concerns from parents, consumer groups and politicians, a chemical used in baby bottles, canned food and other items is not dangerous, federal regulators said Friday.

Food and Drug Administration scientists said the trace amounts of bisphenol A that leach out of food containers are not a threat to infants or adults. The plastic-hardening chemical is used to seal canned food and make shatterproof bottles. It is also used in hundreds of household items, ranging from sunglasses to CDs.

The FDA's draft report was greeted with enthusiasm by the American Chemistry Council, which has defended the chemical's safety.

"FDA is the government agency we rely upon to assess food-contact products. They've assessed this issue in great detail and their conclusion is very reassuring," said Steve Henges, an executive director with the council.

But environmental groups were quick to criticize the agency's conclusions, which they said relied on industry-funded studies.

"It's ironic FDA would choose to ignore dozens of studies funded by [the National Institutes of Health] -- this country's best scientists -- and instead rely on flawed studies from industry," said Pete Myers, chief scientist for Environmental Health Sciences.

The FDA report is the latest in a growing pile of assessments of bisphenol, which has been used to package food for decades.

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I heard about this on NPR the other day. So what else is new with an impartial adminstration that favors big corporations over the safety of the rest of the population. Again, the FDA has been stacked with political stooges that go along with business interests.

John

that the amount of "leaching" of "bisphenol A" is not immediately harmful; if the people who make the polymer do it right. It has to be completely consumed in the polymerization reaction, there has to be little or none of the material "half reacted", because polycarbonates can and do go decomposition under certain environmental conditions. In other words, if a very good cross polymerization has been accomplished in the manufacturing production, there will be no "free" bisphenol A hanging around, it will all be part of the polymer structure.
So it depends what they are testing. If i can smell or taste bisphenol A residues present in a badly reacted batch of plastic water bottles, i WON"T drink out of them. Bisphenol A is a hormone mimic, and by itself is a cancer causing suspect.

Hi Ol CS,
I agree completely with your comments, if bisphenol A is reacted into a polymer such as a polycarbonate.
However, it is also used in polymers such as PVC as an antioxidant, where it is free, not reacted in, and can be leached out. I used to work for a company who made plastic additives for PVC, and bisphenol A was a popular additive for food use grades of PVC. It was however used in very low amounts.
Best wishes
Ron

One problem is that with things like this, tiny doses over extended time periods can be far more dangerous that a single large exposure. Your body can deal with the latter and move on but the former prevents such a strategy.

We can only become informed,or not, then make a decision in our own lives as to how we are going to deal with it, I offer the following for your consideration.

1. go crazy and throw every piece of plastic in your house out the door. And while your at it throw out every cleaning supply you own that couldn't be used as salad dressing in an emergency.

2. Take stock of your plastic dependancy. I use plastic drinking bottles with internal heavy duty straws that are all run through the dishwasher from time to time. I try to keep the water in them fresh. I use tap water (I believe in the build immunity thru community philosophy...in other words the community of bacteria that I consume in the tapwater is actualy building up my resistance to the inceasing levels of toxicity in the public water system.) Makes sense don't you think?

3. The biggest offenders can be identified by looking at the bottom of your water bottle for the triangle symbol with the number 7 in it. Some toothbrush handles may also contain bisphenol whateveritis. Chewing sand is a much more natural way to clean your teeth.

4. I've already got PD...how much worse can it get? We're all gonna kick the bucket sooner or later. In the meantime Im going to go to the bakery, buy a pan of fudge brownies (tinfoil pan! ) and a gallon of high fat milk and sit in front of the TV set close enough to benefit from the radiation it gives off and eat as much as I can hold! Who wants to come to my house??

Do I sound bitter and twisted. or am I just incredibly enlightened? Who cares?

May we all live long enough to witness the second coming and whatever comes after it.

Cheers ...Joy

This rant is endorsed by Barak O'Bama (yes -he is actually Irish) & the McCain Chocolate Cake Coalition for a Saner America. Oh ya, you don't get McCain Chocolate cakes in the States. They are the BEST!