|
News & Analysis | REG•WATCH Blog | Press Room
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Plastics Chemical Report to Go under the Microscope
The National Toxicology Program (NTP) will conduct a thorough review of a controversial assessment of the health effects of bisphenol-A, a chemical commonly found in a host of consumer products including CDs and baby bottles. NTP will give the report "unprecedented scrutiny," according to The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.
NTP's reproductive health panel released the report, which was roundly criticized by scientists and environmental advocates, last August . The report came on the heels of a National Institutes of Health study which found health problems in newborn animals exposed to bisphenol-A.
Critics complained NTP had relied on industry-funded science which downplayed the negative effects of bisphenol-A. The panel called the chemical's risks "negligible" — a conclusion which could undermine the argument in favor of bisphenol-A regulation. In December, a Journal-Sentinel investigation confirmed those complaints.
The Journal-Sentinel found the panel "gave more weight to industry-funded studies and more leeway to industry-funded researchers." In one case, "The panel accepted a Korean study translated by the chemical industry's trade group that found bisphenol A to be safe."
The report's authors conveniently omitted other studies which concluded bisphenol-A does pose a health risk: "The newspaper found that the panel missed dozens of studies publicly available that the newspaper found online using a medical research Internet search engine."
The panel's report has been the object of controversy for some time. Last March, OMB Watch reported on Sciences International, a contractor with ties to the plastics industry which had been hired by NTP to prepare the report. After it was alleged Sciences International's conflict of interest had led to suspect scientific research, their contract was terminated.
Stay tuned to Reg•Watch for more.
Posted by Matt Madia
|