FDA Issues Guidelines For BPA

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-fda-bpa16-2010jan16,0,3811446.story

The Food and Drug Administration said Friday that Bisphenol-A, a controversial chemical found in some baby bottles, children's drinking cups and other food storage containers, needs to be studied further, but did not warrant immediate restrictions on it's use.

The FDA, the Department of Human Services and other health agencies have committed $30 million to studying the health effects of BPA and expect to have results in 18-24 months. In the meantime, the agency has issued guidelines for limiting the exposure of children and babies to the chemical. FDA Deputy Commissioner Joshua Sharfstein said that for the present, "the FDA does support the use of baby bottles with BPA."

In the human body, BPA mimics the hormone estrogen. Some studies have tied the compound to reproductive abnormalities and increased risks of cancer and diabetes. Infants and children are thought to be particularly vulnerable to any adverse effects because their reproductive organs and ability to metabolize chemicals are not fully formed.

The announcement is likely to cause confusion because it is in opposition to bans on BPA in plastics that have already been put in place by several state and local governments . Connecticut and Minnesota and the city if Chicago, among others have already placed restrictions on BPA, and Canada has banned the substance in baby bottles.