Introduction to the Sciences
Detrimental Health Effects of BPA
Bisphenol A or BPA is used to develop certain types of plastic that are used in a large number of preparations for variety products. Containers made with these materials may expose people to BPA in water and food. Medical equipments and other more popular products, like coating for thermal papers, may also be a factor significantly to human exposure. Some animal studies have found that the development of fetus may be harmed by BPA, but scientists do not believe the fact about the value of the animal research for predicting adverse side effects in people.
Schierow and Lister (2010) assert that BPA can interfere with estrogen’s action, which is a very important factor in regulation of development and reproduction (Schierow & Lister, 2010). These studies only show that the effect goes directly to the brain, where it changes the behavior of the subject, also possible precancerous lesions in the mammary gland and prostate.
U.S. FDA’s Position Regarding BPA
Based on the updated perspective that FDA released, BPA is safe to be in our foods provided that the content is very low. This is the agency’s assessment after hundreds of studies that their scientists conducted. With all the researches and assessments, FDA will still continue to monitor and review current studies regarding Bisphenol A. Along with its scientists, the agency is working with National Center for Toxicological Research or NCTR. With this position, FDA assures the public that the agency supports the strongest regulation in protecting the consumers from any possible risks in the food supply (fda.gov, 2013).
U.S. HSS Position Regarding Minimizing an Infant Exposure to BPA
The U.S. HSS is eager to invest millions of dollars to come up with more important results and evaluations in regards with BPA effects in both humans and animals. This is to better understand if BPA really has the potential to harm us. These million dollar studies include the infant products that maybe have the BPA content. As one of the recommended guidelines that HSS is promoting, the agency is convincing every parent to practice breast feeding, which will minimize infant’s exposure to plastic bottles that has BPA content (hss.gov, n.d.)
California’s Position Regarding BPA
The State of California is not allowing Bisphenol A or BPA to come in contact in any infant products especially feeding bottles. As a matter of fact, the state assembly passed a bill on 2010 banning BPA in all products that child 3 years and below use (latimes.com, 2010). This only shows the position of the State government not only when it comes to solving any possible harmful effect of BPA, but the government is already preventing it as early as possible to avoid any further damage. And with this kind of legislative act, infants and children will be secured against Biphenol A and ensuring that there will be no contact between their young ones and BPA.
BPA should be more tightly regulated in the US
Bisphenol A should be regulated extensively in the United States. Since BPA is still under assessment by the scientist, government should equally spend a budget in banning this substance as much as they spend money in conducting experiments about BPA. Prevention maybe better than cure, but banning may be better than preventing. Once BPA has been taken by our infants, there will be no way that the long term effects can be prevented.
References
Bisphenol A (BPA) Information for Parents. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.hhs.gov/safety/bpa/
Bisphenol A (BPA): Use in Food Contact Application. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.fda.gov/newsevents/publichealthfocus/ucm064437.htm
Carpenter, S. (2010, July 2). California Assembly passes bill banning BPA in baby bottles - Los Angeles Times. Retrieved from http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jul/02/local/la-me-bpa-20100702
Federation of American Scientist. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RS22869.pdf
