Bisphenol A Back in Spotlight

(MoneyWatch)  Bisphenol A (BPA) -- a chemical used in plastic bottles and other containers, including baby bottles, water bottles and food cans -- has always been controversial. Many health advocates remained skeptical despite Food and Drug Administration statements about the lack of evidence that BPA is unsafe for human health.

But new research suggests both that the chemical definitely does leach into humans from containers and that the chemical can be harmful even at low levels, and the FDA has vowed to reexamine the issue.

In particular there are fears that BPA can affect the development of young children and fetuses. Minnesota, Connecticut and Chicago have all banned the compound in food and drink containers for children, the California Senate passed a bill doing the same, and California might add BPA to its official list of substances known to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity.

Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal wrote a letter attacking a group of companies and industry organizations, including the Coca-Cola Company, Del Monte Foods, and the Grocery Manufacturers Association, who had allegedly held a meeting to discuss strategies to convince the public BPA was safe.

He said alleged plans to use a pregnant women to front a publicity drive for BPA would be, if proven true, "astonishing and appalling in light of mounting scientific evidence about the dangers of BPA, especially to children".

The Grocery Manufacturers Association said it was unaware of any such campaign.

Most of the concern around BPA focuses on babies and children, but there's another industry paying attention to the issue as well.

"Sex toys should be made of a medical or food grade material that is safe for intimate contact and is ideally hypoallergenic," according to the Coalition Against Toxic Sex Toys. Such products are generally considered "novelty items" and thus not regulated.