BPA to be restricted by manufacturer and probably by Congress

Yesterday, an AP business writer reported that Sunoco plans to restrict the sale of bisphenol-A, or BPA because of safety concerns.  Reportedly, Sunoco is no longer selling the controversial chemical for use in food containers and baby bottles.  Sunoco's action contradicts claims by larger manufacturers of BPA, such as Dow Chemical, Bayer and Hexion Specialty Chemicals, and the American Chemistry Council, that BPA poses no health risk.

Canada had previously banned similar products containing BPA, and many health researchers point to data suggesting a serious health risk--particularly to developing children.  Reportedly BPA mimics the operation of the hormone estrogen and animial studies suggest a risk of breast, prostate and uterine tumors and a wealth of additional health concerns.  Also last week, Playtex, Gerber and four other baby bottle manufacturers announced they would no longer use the chemical in bottle production.  Tests had identified toxic levels of the chemical in bottles, levels that had caused neurological and developmental changes in lab animals.  Human studies have linked BPA to heart disease and diabetes, and found that it interferes with chemotherapy for breast cancer patients.

The Washington Post and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that bills have been introduced in Congress to ban the use of BPA in food and beverage containers.  Many toy manufacturers have also eliminated its use in toys they produce.