Opening the Industry Playbook: Myths and Truths in the Debate Over BPA Regulation

Abstract

For the last two decades, scientists have amassed evidence that bisphenol A (BPA) poses a threat to human health. Although scientists have targeted BPA as a public health concern, plastics industry lobbyists have attempted to thwart the efforts of federal, state, and local authorities to reduce exposure to BPA. This paper reviews the major arguments advanced by the plastics industry and debunks them as, “myths,” that public health officials must reject. The five topics covered include: The myth of scientific consensus on safety; the myth that only studies complying with, “Good Laboratory Practices,” guidelines are adequate for making regulatory decisions; myths about the science of BPA exposure and metabolism; economic myths related to restrictions on BPA’s use; and the myth that state-based regulation creates an unmanageable, “patchwork,” of rules. After critiquing the facts and policy implications of each issue, the authors conclude with suggestions regarding how federal agencies can coordinate their work to better protect the public from the risks posed by BPA and other endocrine disrupting chemicals.