Reprinted from Greenwire with permission from Environment & Energy Publishing, LLC. www.eenews.net. 202/628-6500

Sara Goodman, Greenwire reporter

A controversial plastics additive does not pose a significant human health threat because it passes through people’s bodies faster than it does through rats, the European Union’s food safety agency said yesterday.

Humans are exposed to the chemical, bisphenol A (BPA), at such low levels that it is quickly metabolized, then eliminated, the European Food Safety Authority said.

The E.U. study comes after months of debate over the health effects of BPA, which has been used for decades to make polycarbonate plastics and epoxy linings of tin cans. BPA is durable and withstands high temperatures.

Health and consumer advocates have been pushing to ban BPA, pointing to animal studies showing it mimics estrogen and causes developmental problems and precancerous growths.

The agency said it addressed how the human body handles BPA, concluding it does not pose a threat to developing fetuses or newborns, vulnerable populations most at risk.

The E.U. finding supports the stance taken by industry groups that have argued that bans or other restrictive action against the chemical are unwarranted because there have been no studies linking the chemical to human health problems — particularly not in small doses.

“This body of evidence further limits the relevance of low-dose effects of BPA reported in some rodent studies used for human risk assessment,” the E.U. agency said in a statement.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration also maintains that products made with bisphenol A, such as baby bottles and food and liquid containers, are safe, although some questioned the agency’s credibility after it was revealed that FDA relied on two industry-funded reports to come to that conclusion.

U.S. uproar

In the United States, consumer groups have led a wave of protests over the presence of the chemical in consumer goods, especially those intended for infants and children.

Last month, Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) proposed a ban on bisphenol A in all food and beverage containers, saying the risk of not acting was “too high” when there was a chance of adverse effects. Several states and countries are also considering a ban on the chemical.

Many retailers and manufacturers have started offering alternatives to bisphenol A — particularly in products used by young children and infants.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Toys”R”Us Inc., CVS and other major retailers have announced plans to phase out products containing BPA, while manufacturers including Playtex and Nalgene say they will remove BPA from their products by year’s end. Playtex is distributing 1 million free samples of BPA-free infant products to call attention to the transition.

The agency said it will continue to closely monitor scientific findings regarding BPA and its possible health effect.