BPA Update: EPA to Investigate Environmental Impact of BPA

Image credit: ToastyKen

In January, I wrote about the FDA’s reversal on their safety ruling for bisphenol A (BPA) which is used in the production of plastic water bottles and the lining of aluminum cans.

Late March, the EPA announced it will be beginning an investigation to determine if BPA should be added to the list of chemicals of concern.

Why Is the EPA Investigating?

The EPA recognizes that the exposure level is below levels established by toxicology studies to cause adverse health effects. However, they are concerned that emerging research strongly supports the potential for low dose exposures to also have harmful effects.

What are Potential Outcomes?

The EPA is considering three actions:

1. Add BPA to the “Concern List”, a list of compounds that pose an unreasonable risk to human health or the environment
2. Require further testing to determine environmental effects
3. Begin to evaluate potential alternatives for BPA to help reduce its release into the environment

At this point the EPA is not considering regulating BPA. However, if the EPA finds that the data demonstrates BPA is an unreasonable threat to human health, they have the authority to do so. Depending on the degree of risk they believe BPA is to human health, regulation could potentially include a complete ban of BPA or just restriction for certain uses.