NIH Panel Releases Conclusions About Compound BPA's Effect On Reproductive Disorders

Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Also Included In: Public Health
Article Date: 14 Aug 2007 - 9:00 PDT

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A 12-member panel from NIH's Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction on Wednesday said it has "minimal" or "negligible" concerns that the compound bisphenol A, which is found in plastic and is similar to estrogen, can cause human reproductive disorders, the Los Angeles Times reports. The panel also said that the compound, also known as BPA, could pose some risk to the neurological development of infants and children (Cone, Los Angeles Times, 8/9).

The journal Reproductive Toxicology last week published on its Web site a statement warning that BPA likely is causing various human reproductive disorders. The statement was accompanied by a new study from NIH that found uterine damage in animals exposed to BPA. The damage is a potential predictor of reproductive diseases among women, including fibroids, endometriosis, cystic ovaries and cancers. Several dozen scientists reviewed about 700 earlier studies and for the first time linked BPA to female reproductive disorders. They also concluded that people are exposed to higher BPA levels than those found to harm laboratory animals. Infants and fetuses are most likely to experience harm from BPA.

In the statement, 38 scientists said that BPA causes cells to turn genes on or off, which could predispose a fetus or child to a reproductive disorder. In addition, BPA levels found in lab animals are similar to those found in human fetal blood, the statement said.

According to Retha Newbold of NIH's National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the study found that BPA can cause reproductive damage similar to the anti-miscarriage drug diethylstilbestrol, which was given to pregnant women from the 1940s to the 1970s. Diethylstilbestrol was later found to cause infertility and reproductive cancers among children born to women who took the drug. No studies have been conducted on BPA's effects among humans, and the scientists who signed the statement are calling for human research (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 8/6).

The panel reviewed 500 animal studies and used five rankings -- negligible concern, minimal concern, some concern, concern and severe concern -- for its findings, the Times reports. For fetuses, pregnant women, infants and children, the panel said there is "some concern that exposure to BPA causes neural and behavioral effects." For fetuses and children, the panel said there is "minimal concern" that BPA harms the prostate gland and causes premature puberty. The panel also said that there is "negligible concern" that BPA cases birth defects. For adults, they reported "negligible concern about adverse reproductive effects." According to the Times, part of the reason the panel ranked the reproductive risks less seriously than the other group of scientists is that the panel rejected several studies in which animals were exposed to BPA through injection rather than through their diets. The panel's recommendation will be reviewed by the National Toxicology Program for a federal report that could lead to regulations restricting use of the chemical, the Times reports.

Comments, Reaction
John Bucher, associate director of NTP, said the panel gave the most weight to neurological effects in children, infants and fetuses because studies consistently have found those effects when newborn animals are exposed to low doses similar to what humans encounter. He added that because the science remains uncertain, it is up to individuals to decide whether to avoid products with BPA.

Steve Hentges of the American Chemistry Council's polycarbonate division said the panel's report is a "strong reassurance to consumers" that products containing BPA are safe. Frederick vom Saal, a University of Missouri-Columbia reproductive toxicologist who has conducted studies on BPA, said that it is disappointing that the panel did not rank the risk higher but that the "panel is now on record saying there are human health concerns."

Some environmental advocates "lambasted" the panel's report, saying it minimized the risks and ignored important research, according to the Times. Anila Jacob of the Environmental Working Group said, "Only the chemical industry agrees with the decision that BPA has little or no human health risks." She added, "That by itself should speak volumes about the corrupted process endorsed by the panel today" (Los Angeles Times, 8/9).

The panel's report is available online. Note: You will need Adobe Acrobat to view the report.

CNN on Thursday included a discussion with CNN medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen about the panel's findings (Phillips, CNN, 8/9). A transcript of the segment is available online. In addition, NPR's "All Things Considered" on Thursday included a discussion with panel member Jane Adams, a neurodevelopmental toxicologist, about the findings (Seabrook, "All Things Considered," NPR, 8/9). Audio of the segment is available online.

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.