California Posts Bisphenol A Assessment Online in Prop. 65 Proceeding

California EPA’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has published hazard identification materials for bisphenol A in advance of a July 15, 2009, meeting at which the agency will consider whether to list the substance under Proposition 65 (Prop. 65) as a chemical known to the state to cause reproductive harm. Written comments are requested by June 30, 2009. If bisphenol A is listed, manufacturers of products sold in the state containing the chemical will have to provide consumers appropriate warnings.

The May 2009 draft of “Evidence on the Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity of Bisphenol A” observes that the substance “is produced in large quantities for use primarily in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins . . . used in certain food and drink packaging.” According to the draft, detectable levels of the chemical “have been found in the general population.”

While human studies are apparently “of limited usefulness for evaluating causal relationships” and numerous animal studies are difficult to interpret due to “the variety of species, strains, dosing regimens, endpoints evaluated and techniques used for their evaluation, and analytical methodologies used,” OEHHA concludes, “Overall, studies that used sensitive methodologies to assess appropriate endpoints consistently reported developmental, female-reproductive and male-reproductive effects.”