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April 18, 2008
International Bottled Water Association
Bottled Water Products
in Polycarbonate Plastic Containers are Safe for Consumer Use
Recent media stories and a statement issued by the National Toxicology Program (NTP) have raised questions about the safety of polycarbonate plastic bottles due to the presence of a substance known as bisphenol A (BPA). Polycarbonate plastic is used in a wide variety of consumer products, including food and drink containers. Many 3- and 5-gallon bottled water containers are made of polycarbonate plastic and consumers can remain confident about the safety of these products.
·
Bottled
water is comprehensively regulated as a food product by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA). Plastic food and beverage containers, including
polycarbonate plastic made with BPA, must meet or exceed all FDA requirements. FDA
clears all food-contact plastics for their intended use based on migration and
safety data. The clearance process includes stringent requirements for
estimating the levels at which such materials may transfer to the diet. FDA's
safety criteria require extensive toxicity testing for any substance that may
be ingested at more than negligible levels. This means FDA has affirmatively
determined that, when cleared plastics are used as intended in food-contact
applications, the nature and amount of substances that may migrate, if any, are
safe.
· Polycarbonate plastic has been the material of choice for food and beverage product containers for nearly 50 years because it is lightweight, highly shatter-resistant, and transparent. During that time, many studies have been conducted to assess the potential for trace levels of BPA to migrate from polycarbonate bottles into foods or beverages. The conclusions from those studies and comprehensive safety evaluations by government bodies worldwide are that polycarbonate bottles are safe for consumer use.
·
The April
14, 2008 NTP Draft Brief on BPA confirms that there are no serious or high
level concerns for adverse effects of BPA on human reproduction and
development. Steven G.
Hentges, Ph.D., of the American Chemistry Council’s Polycarbonate/BPA Global
Group, states that the “findings in NTP’s draft report provide reassurance that
consumers can continue to use products made from bisphenol A. Importantly, this
conclusion has been affirmed by scientific and government bodies worldwide.”
·
The
NTP Draft Brief confirms that human exposure to BPA is extremely low and noted
no direct evidence in humans that exposure to BPA adversely affects
reproduction or development. The limited evidence for effects in laboratory
animals at low doses primarily highlights opportunities for additional research
to better understand whether these findings are of any significance to human
health.
·
On April 18, 2008, the Canadian Minister of
Health confirmed the safety of most consumer products made from polycarbonate
plastic, including reusable water bottles.
The Minister announced that Health Canada (similar to the FDA in the
United States) completed an extensive safety review of BPA and concluded that most
products made from polycarbonate plastic are safe. However, Health Canada
issued concerns about the potential risk of baby bottles made from
polycarbonate plastic. As a result, they have proposed a ban on baby bottles
made form this substance. IBWA welcomes the scientific rigor of Health Canada’s
safety review, which confirms the safety of reusable polycarbonate water
bottles.
·
For
more information on this issue, visit the American Chemistry Council’s website
at www.factsonplastic.com or www.bisphenol-a.org
The
International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) is the authoritative source of
information about all types of bottled waters.
Founded in 1958, IBWA's membership includes