Latest BPA update. Readers of MassTortDefense know that a recent draft report by the Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction (CERHR) of the National Toxicology Program (NTP) examined bisphenol-A (BPA). The CERHR/NTP draft report, issued April 15th for public comment, expressed “some concern” based on animal studies that the chemical might affect the neurological systems and behavior of fetuses, infants, and children. See our post here.

Officials from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission both told the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation subcommittee on consumer affairs recently that bisphenol-A did not appear to pose sufficient risks that the product should be banned. Although review is ongoing, at this time those agencies have no reason to recommend that consumers stop using products containing BPA. The FDA’s associate commissioner for science said that a large body of evidence indicates that currently marketed products containing BPA, such as baby bottles and food containers, are safe and that exposure levels to BPA from these products are well below those that may cause health effects. See our post here on this.

The NTP collected public comments on the draft and scheduled a June 11 peer review meeting for the draft. In comments on the NTP draft report, the American Chemistry Council asserted that the program relied on numerous studies of dubious and limited quality. Certain environmental groups sought stronger statements of concern.

The expert review panel has now concluded that the National Toxicology Program overstated some of the concerns about bisphenol A’s potential developmental effects. At a meeting in Research Triangle Park, the panel, called the Board of Scientific Counselors, voted to revise the levels of concern stated in the NTP draft report on bisphenol A. In particular the “some concern” is to change to “minimal concern” regarding the neurological system and behavior of fetuses, infants, and children as might be affected by exposure to low levels of bisphenol A. (The toxicology program regularly uses “statements of concern” about different types of exposures and different groups that may be exposed to a chemical. The five levels of concern used by NTP are from highest to lowest: serious concern, concern, some concern, minimal concern, and negligible concern. )

Following its review of the draft report, the BSC panel decided that NTP had overstated bisphenol A’s potential effects on mammary glands and the onset of puberty in young females. The panelists generally felt that there were insufficient scientific data to support any stronger level of concern than minimal.

The review panel said there was sufficient evidence in the studies considered by NTP to support its other statements of concern –minimal and negligible.

• The BSC accepted (7 yes, 4 no, 1 abstention) that the scientific evidence cited in the draft NTP Brief on Bisphenol A supports the conclusion of minimal concern for bisphenol A exposure in fetuses, infants, and children at current human exposures based on effects in the mammary gland. • The BSC accepted (7 yes, 4 no, 1 abstention) that the scientific evidence cited in the draft NTP Brief on Bisphenol A supports the conclusion of minimal concern for bisphenol A exposure in fetuses, infants, and children at current human exposures based on an earlier age for puberty in females.
• The BSC accepted (11 yes, 1 no) that the scientific evidence cited in the draft NTP Brief on Bisphenol A supports the NTP conclusion of negligible concern that exposure of pregnant women to bisphenol A will result in fetal or neonatal mortality, birth defects or reduced birth weight and growth in their offspring.
• The BSC accepted unanimously (12 yes, 0 no) that the scientific evidence cited in the draft NTP Brief on Bisphenol A supports the NTP conclusion of negligible concern that exposure to bisphenol A causes reproductive effects in non-occupationally exposed adults.
• The BSC accepted (11 yes, 0 no, 1 abstention) that the scientific evidence cited in the draft NTP Brief on Bisphenol A supports the NTP conclusion of minimal concern for workers exposed to higher levels of bisphenol A in occupational settings.

The panel also accepted the mid-level “some” concern expressed in two areas.

• The BSC accepted unanimously (12 yes, 0 no) that the scientific evidence cited in the draft NTP Brief on Bisphenol A supports the NTP conclusion of some concern for neural and behavioral effects of bisphenol A in fetuses, infants, and children at current human exposures.
• The BSC accepted (10 yes, 2 no) that the scientific evidence cited in the draft NTP Brief on Bisphenol A supports the NTP conclusion of some concern for bisphenol A exposure in fetuses, infants, and children at current human exposures based on effects in the prostate gland.

The panel called for additional research to better understand bisphenol A’s potential effects.

Public comments on the draft , transcripts, list of attendees, etc. found here.