Health

BOSTON (WBZ) ― Plastic baby bottles, popular beverage holders, the lining of some canned foods and dental sealants are just some of the products that contain Bisphenol-A, or BPA.

BPA is a chemical that is used to make plastics stronger. It mimics estrogen and when given to lab animals, it has produced "an increased propensity to prostate cancer, increased propensity to breast cancer, obesity, alterations of behavior," explains Dr. Ana Soto of the Tufts School of Medicine.

It is known that BPA can leach out of the plastic into liquids -- especially when heated. But the FDA says these products do not pose a health risk:

"The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is aware of several reports stating that BPA migrates into food at levels that are of concern. FDA is actively reviewing the safety of BPA and has recently completed a review of the available pharmacokinetic data and several animal studies, including two recently completed multi-generation reproductive studies.

"Exposure to BPA from all uses (e.g., polycarbonate polymers and epoxy based liners) is relatively low (low ppb range). Based on the studies reviewed by FDA, adverse effects occur in animals only at levels of BPA that are far higher (orders of magnitude) than those to which infants or adults are exposed.

"Therefore, FDA sees no reason to ban or otherwise restrict the uses now authorized at this time. We are continuing to monitor data on BPA to determine if a safety concern exists. If such a concern exists, FDA will take appropriate regulatory action."

The Centers for Disease Control also believes BPA does not pose a major risk. "Overall, the CDC data indicates that human exposure to Bisphenol-A is very low and strongly supports the conclusion that exposure to Bisphenol-A poses no known risk to human health."

These views are not shared by researchers at Tufts School of Medicine. "We have used... and other labs have shown that tiny amounts of BPA produce these effects," said Dr. Carlos Sonnenschein.

One of the most common products with BPA is plastic baby bottles. Isis Maternity in Needham has been bombarded with questions about the chemical.

The store has started carrying more glass bottles and products labeled Bisphenol-A free.

Popular Nalgene bottles also contain BPA. The makers of Nalgene, which is based in Waltham, wouldn't talk on camera but gave WBZ this statement:

"More than 50 years of extensive research on BPA has indicated that is safe for use in products that contact food and beverages."

Still stores like Natick Outdoors are offering warnings and alternatives. "You can actually go to the old style polyethylene bottle, or go can do stainless steel or aluminum -- and those are kind of new," explains a Natick Outdoors employee.

In addition to young children, scientists at Tufts are most concerned about pregnant women passing BPA to the fetus. "Exposures during early development will produce consequences that would manifest later in life, for example breast cancer," said Dr. Soto.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has not taken a formal stand on the issue -- leaving it up to parents to decide what's best for their families.

A bill that would require companies to use alternatives to BPA when feasible has recently passed the Massachusetts Senate.

Click here for recommendations on what to do to limit exposure to BPA.

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