Federal Report Finds Health Risks from Polycarbonate Chemical

In the first official federal statement about the chemical’s risks, a panel of scientists for the Center for Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction, part of the National Institutes of Health, concluded in August 2007 that bisphenol-A poses “some concern” for human health. After looking at more than 500 animal studies of the chemical, used to make the hard plastic polycarbonate found in water bottles, translucent building panels, and high-impact glazing, the panel agreed that there is a risk that it causes neural and behavioral effects in fetuses, infants, and children. The panel expressed “minimal” and “negligible” concerns about various reproductive effects of the chemical, which mimics estrogen. These findings will be forwarded to the National Toxicology Council, which will determine whether bisphenol-A should be considered toxic to humans and issue a report with its recommendations for regulation of the chemical. More information is available at http://cerhr.niehs.nih.gov/chemicals/index.html.