How Safe is BPA in Medical Devices?How Safe is BPA in Medical Devices?

BPA (bisphenol A) has been linked to diabetes and heart disease, so is its use safe in medical devices? The answer is yes, according to FDA, but a new study is once again casting doubt on the chemical. The hardened plastic is used in everything from baby bottles to medical devices to food packaging. FDA can limit the use of BPA in medical devices, but the agency has recognized the need to answer questions posed by consumer advocacy groups.

September 17, 2008

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The study in The Journal of the American Medical Association found that adults with the highest BPA levels in their urine had more than double the chances of having diabetes or heart diseases versus those with the lowest levels of the chemicals.According to a Gail McCarver, a pediatrician interviewed by USA Today, the FDA report on BPA underestimates the exposure level of the chemical among children.So now what? Advocates are urging the agency to revise its stance that BPA is safe for daily use. The president of the National Research Center for Women & Families, Diana Zuckerman, is calling for clear warning labels on products made with BPA. McCarver suggests that manufacturers start replacing the plastic with another chemical. Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) sent a letter to FDA requesting copies of communication with the American Chemistry Council, the group that funded a study referred to by the agency in its report on BPA.Although JAMA's study is causing quite a stir among safety advocates, it still points out the independent follow up studies must be conducted to confirm their findings and offer more insight into how exposure could potentially cause adverse outcomes in humans.For some background info: The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (part of the National Institutes of Health) has a pretty good run down of how BPA is used, along with some facts, timelines, and links about the chemical.

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