California officials are on track to declare bisphenol A (BPA) a reproductive hazard, potentially harmful to fetuses and infants.
The state's Environmental Protection Agency could soon require warning labels on products with hazardous amounts of BPA under the requirements of Proposition 65, according to a story on sfgate.com.
Animal studies have associated BPA -- which is used in some dental sealants -- with breast and prostate cancers, as well as reproductive and behavioral abnormalities. In addition, some research has tied BPA to cardiovascular disease, miscarriage, decreased semen quality, and childhood behavioral issues. The chemical also may affect metabolism, diabetes, and obesity, although more studies are required to determine its effects.
A 30-day comment period must lapse before BPA becomes officially listed as a harmful chemical in California. If it does, however, it doesn't necessarily mean warning labels on all canned goods and other products. To merit a warning, a substance must exceed a predetermined level, and the amount of BPA found in the metal cans of food and beverages typically falls below the exposure level proposed by the state, 290 µg a day, state officials said.
