Elimination or a drastic decrease in sex difference pertaining to behavior is a possibility due to maternal exposure to BPA or bisphenol A according to the release of a study result in October. This result adds fuel to earlier suggestions that BPA exposure could affect the brain and lead to changes in behavior.
Those who are following studies on BPA closely will find the National Toxicology Program or NTP differing in view from the Food and Drug Administration or the FDA regarding the safety issue related to BPA.
NTP showed concerns over the possibility of the current BPA exposure affecting behavior, brain and even the prostate gland in children, infants and fetuses. FDA however, in the month of August refuted the claim that current exposure levels of bisphenol A is toxic and added that there is a need for further evidence before coming to a conclusion.
According to the Science board subcommittee of the FDA, the review published by the agency on the chemical BPA widely used in food grade plastic containers, beverage bottles and baby bottles was flawed and not adequate.
Friday’s meeting of the FDA Science Board after reviewing the report of the subcommittee came to the conclusion that the agency was not right when it claimed in August that no health risk was posed by BPA at current levels of exposure.
FDA’s views are understandably defended by the chemical industry. According to the industry’s advocates, FDA’s August assessment is in keeping with the opinion of various other government and scientific bodies around the world including Health Canada, European Food Safety Authority, NSF International, etc.