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Thursday, August 09, 2007

Science Panel Releases Final Report on Plastics Chemical

The National Toxicology Program's Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction (CERHR) has released its final report on bisphenol-A and the adverse effects in humans resulting from exposure. Bisphenol-A is a component of plastics commonly found in a wide variety of consumer products like drink containers and CDs.

As Reg•Watch blogged last week, a group of 38 scientists recently concluded bisphenol-A exposure causes adverse effects in the human reproductive system.

The CERHR report is less conclusive. The panel described the risks to human reproduction as "negligible" and "minimal", according to USA Today. The panel stressed the need for further research before more conclusive findings can be made.

The Environmental Working Group is highly critical of the final report for relying on flawed science and for not taking this opportunity to address the risk of bisphenol-A exposure, an issue environmentalists have been concerned with for many years. Read the Environmental Working Group's statement here.

The CERHR report has been the object of controversy for some time. In March, OMB Watch reported on Sciences International, a contractor with ties to the plastics industry which had been hired by CERHR to prepare the report on bisphenol-A exposure. After it was alleged Sciences International's conflict of interest had led to suspect scientific research, their contract was terminated. However, the contractor's work served as the basis for the final report.

Related Post: Plastics Make It Possible?