Last week I wrote about BPA health problems. Perhaps someone at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration noticed my post. After years of denying the dangers associated with BPA, the FDA has finally issued a subtle warning.
According to a report from CBS News, the FDA still claims that BPA is safe but now has “some concern” about the “subtle effects” of BPA on the “brain, behavior and prostate glands in fetuses, infants and young children.”
Does that seem odd to anyone else but me? If this chemical can cause developmental problems for children, then how can the FDA say that it is still safe?
For now, the FDA is merely encouraging parents to limit children’s exposure to BPA. BPA (bisphenol-A) is found in thousands of different products. It’s typically added to plastic to make the plastic harder. As CBS News points out, concerned parents and scientists have been warning about the association between BPA and cancer, diabetes, and other health problems for years. The FDA is just now admitting that there might be a problem. However, in my opinion, the FDA is not doing enough to protect Americans from this dangerous chemical.
Of course, Linda Harrison of the American Chemistry Council would disagree with me.
“What’s important to remember is that FDA indicated that the BPA has not been proven harmful to children or adults,” said Harrison. “And that if they believed it was unsafe, they would’ve issued stronger regulations.”
The real problem here is that chemicals are unleashed on the market and then must be “proven harmful.” Wouldn’t it make more sense to prove the safety of chemicals before allowing them to be sold? Of course, that would make more sense. But that would also cut into profits for chemical manufacturers.
CBS News correspondent Kelly Wallace demonstrated how one might ingest BPA on the Early Show. After eating a sandwich made from canned tuna, the BPA level in her blood was five times higher than normal. However, after living a BPA-free life for five days, the BPA levels in her blood were much lower than average. Wallace led a BPA-free life by avoiding all foods and drinks in cans or plastic containers. Plastic water bottles, for example, also contain BPA. Glass water bottles are a safe alternative.
Professor Fred Vom Saal of the University of Missouri said, “I and other colleagues of mine at an NIH (National Institutes of Health) meeting said, with a very high level of confidence, we think Bisphenol A is a threat to human health.”
BPA causes problems by mimicking hormones like estrogen. This disrupts the balance of the endocrine system in the body.
Currently, it’s nearly impossible to avoid all BPA. You can start by avoiding canned food. BPA is in the plastic lining of the cans. Also avoid food and beverages that come in plastic containers. When possible, buy glass instead of plastic. Remember, it’s especially important to reduce BPA exposure for children and expectant mothers.
If you develop serious health problems that you believe to be connected to your use of a defective or unsafe product, contact a Georgia personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. You may be entitled to compensation. Call MLN Law at 404-531-9700.