Government Mulls Environmental Study of BPA

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is seeking public comment on whether it should study the environmental effects of bisphenol A (BPA), the chemical used in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins. BPA is found in consumer products ranging from DVDs to food cans and water bottles. Recent research has centered on the potentially toxic effects of ingesting the chemical when it leaks from containers into food. “A number of concerns have been raised about the potential human health and environmental effects of BPA,” said Steve Owens, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, in a statement. “The data collected under the testing EPA is considering would help EPA better understand and address the potential environmental impacts of BPA.” The EPA is already working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control, and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to evaluate the potential health consequences of consumer BPA exposure. At the conclusion of this research, the environmental agency will determine whether to take additional action to address human health concerns from “non-food use” exposures. More details on the EPA’s proposed environmental study, including how to submit comments, are here.