A sober look at BPA: Is it safe, or is it not?

by Nick
(Montreal)

Inspired by articles from the Atlantic and The New York Times:

Most of us take a yes or no stance on this question. And we fight our corner against all comers.

I do it myself. As soon as I read an article quoting someone saying that BPA is safe, my blood pressure rises and I reach for my keyboard.

It’s not that I am ignorant of the science, or closed to open discussion on the topic. I have read the science, and for myself I have decided that although there are plenty of questions yet to be answered, it makes absolute sense to assume that BPA is dangerous to our health, until and unless proved otherwise.

I subscribe to what is termed the “precautionary principle”. If there is sufficient evidence to suggest something is harmful, get rid of it. This isn’t about proof. It’s about being cautious, and protecting our children’s health.

Others take the opposing view. They say that until the science proves the dangers of BPA beyond all doubt, it’s OK to assume that it’s safe.

When you get down to the science, most of these arguments revolve around dosage. The dosage of BPA found in our bodies is low. The question is – are those low doses dangerous?

This is the question science needs to address. If it is found that very low doses of BPA are harmful, then the game is over. It’s time to ban BPA.

If you would like to read a pair of articles that address this issue carefully, thoroughly and without bias, check these out.

From The New York Times: In Feast of Data on BPA Plastic, No Final Answer.

From The Atlantic: The Bisphenol A Debate: Partisanship in Action.