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Joint action of NGOs and scientists to call for a reduction of BPA exposure, especially for children and pregnant women

WECF signed a letter to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) pointing out new scientific data and the need for a stricter regulation of BPA.

23.06.2010 |Alexandra Caterbow




WECF signed a letter to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) pointing out new scientific data and the need for a stricter regulation of BPA. BPA is a proven endocrine disruptor and linked to diseases like cancer or diabetes. When exposure occurs during foetal or early childhood development, it may increase a persons susceptibility to cancer. BPA can  be found in plastics used for food and beverages, such as baby bottles, sports water bottles, as an epoxy resin in canned food and drinks, plastic food storage containers, tableware and in other products, including dental sealants, and has been found to leach into food and drink.

60 Scientists and NGOs Sound Joint Warning on Plastics Chemical


PRESS RELEASE
EMBARGOED FOR 12:01 AM, WEDNESDAY 23rd JUNE 2010
An unprecedented 60 scientists and international environment, health and women’s organisations from around the globe have jointly written to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) stating that “action is necessary to reduce the levels of Bisphenol-A (BPA) exposure, particularly in groups at highest risk, namely young infants and pregnant mothers.”

[Quotes from some of the participating scientists and NGOs can be found towards the end of this release.]
 
In total, 41 NGOs and 19 scientists from 15 countries from across the globe (including 9 from the UK) have signed the letter.  The letter comes on the eve of a new scientific opinion to be released by the EFSA on the safety of Bisphenol A in food contact materials expected in early July 2010. 

EFSA was requested by the European Commission to assess the latest science on Bisphenol A, and if necessary, to update the existing Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) (a specific amount  in food or drinking water that can be ingested (orally) over a lifetime without an appreciable health risk).
 
Bisphenol A is a mass produced chemical used in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastics that are clear and nearly shatter-proof.  It can be found in plastics used for food and beverages, such as baby bottles, sports water bottles, as an epoxy resin in canned food and drinks, plastic food storage containers, tableware and in other products, including dental sealants, and has been found to leach into food and drink.
 
There have been long standing concerns about the health impacts of bisphenol A, due to scientific studies that have shown it has hormone disrupting effects at extremely low levels of exposure.  Human bio-monitoring studies have shown that the vast majority of people in developed countries are exposed to Bisphenol-A.
EFSA’s previous opinions in 2007 and 2008 predominantly relied upon a handful of industry backed scientific papers that have expressed no concerns about our levels of BPA exposure.  The letter from scientists and NGOs highlights scientific criticism in academic journals regarding these papers as compared to the “several hundred peer reviewed scientific papers have been published that have highlighted potential adverse health effects associated with BPA exposures”
 
The letter also draws attention to some of the new studies which have raised risks of exposure relating to a potential increased likelihood of developing ‘diabetes’, ‘developmental programming’ and ‘breast cancer’.  Bisphenol A exposure at environmentally relevant levels commonly found in the environment in developed countries has also been repeatedly linked by independent university - based scientists to a number of other serious chronic health conditions. Despite EFSA’s pivotal position in setting chemical food safety levels across the EU, Sweden and Germany have become the third and fourth most recent EU member states, alongside France and Denmark, to take action ahead of the EFSA review.
 
Andreas Carlgren, Sweden's Environment Minister stated, on 11th May 2010, that “If the EU will not quickly forbid the hormone disrupting substance bisphenol in baby-bottles Sweden will precede with a national prohibition.”
 The President of the German Federal Environment Agency on the 9th June also broke from EFSA policy by issuing new guidance calling on“manufacturers, importers and users of bisphenol A to use alternative substances that pose less risk to human health and the environment in all areas of use that significantly contribute to exposure”. Regulators in Canada and the USA have already taken action to limit BPA exposure, for example in its use in baby bottles.  As yet there has been no similar action at the European Union level.
 
A number of EU member states continue to back a common approach across the EU on bisphenol A.  Tim Smith, the head of the UK Food Standards Agency, declared in an internal FSA report on the 12th May, 2010 that he ‘considers it important to have an agreed position across the EU’ and that the FSA will only ‘revise our position in line with it [the EFSA Review] if it is considered necessary’ (www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/board/fsa100503.pdf), despite the action that is being taken elsewhere across the EU. The EFSA have already delayed publication of its review, as explained on its website:
 
To give the European Commission an up-to-date overview of the safety of BPA, EFSA will now deliver a scientific opinion in early July rather than end of May. This is due to the need for the Panel to consider hundreds of studies in its review and analysis of the most recent scientific literature. The letter from scientists and organisations opens by ‘welcoming this announcement’ issued at the 11th hour that EFSA has finally agreed to examine hundreds of non-industry backed scientific papers.
 
The letter was drafted by Breast Cancer UK and Prof. Fredrick vom Saal, Curators Professor of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri-Columbia who has been awarded by his peers for his work on Bisphenol-A and is a recognised leader in this field.  The effort was also coordinated by the Brussels based Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL). Prof. vom Saal stated in response to the publication of the letter that:
 
“At the heart of the debate over BPA lies an outdated set of guidelines used by regulatory agencies that are based on approaches to evaluating the safety of chemicals established over 50 years ago. Thus, 21st century research approaches have provided overwhelming scientific evidence of harm in hundreds of published reports, but these findings are being rejected for consideration because they do not conform to the outdated testing guidelines.
 
“This has left regulatory agencies to rely entirely on industry-funded research that used ‘approved’ testing methods that are crude and insensitive, and it is not surprising that 100% of these industry-funded studies conclude that BPA causes no harm. The only rational path for European regulators is to take decisive action to reduce human exposure to BPA. The overwhelming nature of the total scientific evidence mandates this as a priority.”
 
Clare Dimmer, Chair of Trustees Breast Cancer UK and former breast cancer patient stated:
 
“Breast cancer is the most common cancer across Europe and has been increasing rapidly regardless of the costly and expensive efforts made by Governments to improve screening, treatment, and increase research.  It must now be time that regulators act on the science and begin to take a precautionary approach to hazardous chemicals like bisphenol-A found in our everyday products.”

Lisette van Vliet, Ph.D. the Toxics Policy Advisor at HEAL said:
 
“It is high time that EFSA caught up to the overwhelming science showing genuine reasons for concern about our daily exposure to BPA.”  Participating scientists and organisations were given the opportunity to provide a quote for this press release; those that responded have been included below.  This does not preclude participating organisations providing their own releases, supporting statements and additional comments.
 
Prof. Andrew Watterson, Occupational and Environmental Health Research Group, University of Stirling, said: “It’s worrying, considering the weight of the scientific evidence, that strong action to reduce human exposure is yet to be taken.  Hundreds of academic studies have explicitly raised the risks of developmental harm to foetuses and young children from exposure to BPA and this should dictate a strong precautionary policy response from European regulators.  If this is not forthcoming, the UK Government must intervene as other European countries are already doing so.”
 
Daniela Hoffmann, Chemicals Expert, GLOBAL 2000/Friends of the Earth Austria:
“EFSA has to finally acknowledge the overwhelming scientific evidence concerning the risk BPA poses to human health.”
 
Sarah Häuser, Chemicals Expert BUND / Friends of the Earth Germany: “The existing Tolerable Daily Intake for BPA does not protect human health. In animal experiments and biomonitoring studies, BPA doses much smaller than those estimated as being safe by EFSA were linked to chronic conditions health damages like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. It’s time to take action now.”
 

Notes to editors:
 
For further information please contact
 
Hratche Koundarjian
Campaign Manager
Breast Cancer UK
Charity No: 1088047
 
T: 07905 911 039
E: hratche@breastcanceruk.org.uk
W: www.breastcanceruk.org.uk / www.nomorebpa.org.uk
 
Letter and Signatories –
 
Prof. Klaus-Dieter Jany
Chair of the CEF Panel
European Food Safety Authority
Largo N. Palli 5/A
43121 Parma, Italy
 


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