National Toxicology Program Concurs "Some Concern" with BPA Exposure

The National Toxicology Program has concurred with a previous report by the Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction that BPA poses some concern for in uturo exposure as well as for infants and children. From the NTP report, released yesterday:

For pregnant women and fetuses:

• The Panel expressed some concern that exposure to bisphenol A in utero causes neural and behavioral effects.
• The Panel expressed minimal concern that exposure to bisphenol A in utero causes effects on the prostate.
• The Panel expressed minimal concern that exposure to bisphenol A in utero potentially causes accelerations in puberty.
• The Panel expressed negligible concern that exposure to bisphenol A in utero produces birth defects and malformations.

For infants and children:

• The Panel expressed some concern that exposure to bisphenol A causes neural and behavioral effects.
• The Panel expressed minimal concern that exposure to bisphenol A potentially causes accelerations in puberty.

For adults:

• The Panel expressed negligible concern for adverse reproductive effects following exposures in the general population to bisphenol A.
• For highly exposed subgroups, such as occupationally exposed populations, the level of concern is elevated to minimal.

You can read a detailed brief about the draft report here. You can read about it in the L.A. Times here.

The report is currently open for public comment. If you'd like to weigh in on the issue, direct your comments to Dr. Barbara Shane, Executive Secretary for the NTP Board of Scientific Counselors at (919) 541-4253 or at shane@niehs.nih.gov.