Toppling BPA

An avalanche of evidence is amassing that Bisphenol A, or BPA, is a serious health hazard.

To reproductive problems, behavioral problems, and increased risk of cancer, add asthma. A new study in Environmental Health Perspectives found that mice exposed in utero to concentrations of BPA comparable to what a human fetus could encounter were significantly more likely to have asthma.

The evidence is frighteningly suggestive, given that asthma rates have skyrocketed in the last couple of decades. Nearly 10 percent of all American children suffer from the disease, up from 8.7 percent just 8 years ago.

The response of the FDA has been to shift from calling BPA a substance of "negligible concern" to one of "some concern" and to call for further study.

But study isn't what's lacking. What's lacking is federal action, and these shifts in bureaucratic language don't help consumers.

Many items — from baby bottles to Campbell's Soup to medical tubing — contain BPA, which isn't even required to be labeled. Consumers can't be expected to do all the work on their own.

Yet the FDA claims that it can't ban BPA without action from Congress allowing it to do so. Sick children? No brainer. Congress should let the regulators regulate.

Photo credit: Michael Jastremski