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University of Illinois Study Has Little Relevance to Human Health

Posted on: Wednesday, 8 July 2009, 18:46 CDT

ARLINGTON, Va., July 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Chemistry Council (ACC) offers the following comments in response to queries regarding the University of Illinois study led by veterinary biosciences professor Jodi Flaws. The study will be presented on July 19 at the annual meeting of the Society for the Study of Reproduction. Quotes may be attributed to Steven G. Hentges, Ph.D. of the American Chemistry Council's Polycarbonate/BPA Global Group.

"ACC and its member companies have long-supported research and data collection that advance scientific understanding about chemicals. To best promote public health, that research and data should be transparent, meaningful and subjected to peer review.

"The University of Illinois study examines bisphenol A (BPA) only in a cell culture, not in whole animals. Cell cultures have no capability to metabolize and eliminate BPA, a process that occurs very efficiently when people are exposed to BPA. Contrary to the researcher's speculation that BPA might cause effects on fertility, multiple studies on laboratory animals have found no effects on fertility at doses more than one million times higher than typical human exposure.

"In addition, the levels of BPA tested in the cell cultures are vastly greater than current low levels of exposure from all sources, based on data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Due to these factors, the study has very limited relevance to human health, and it is misleading for the data to be presented as if it were 'evidence' of health risks.

"Results from unpublished research are difficult to assess for significance to human health, since they have not been peer-reviewed or published in the scientific literature and few details are available in conference abstracts. Bypassing the scientific process in favor of a sensational press release is a scare tactic that does not promote public health. A recent survey of more than 1,000 professional toxicologists found that nine out of 10 believe research findings should be peer-reviewed before being released to the press. The survey was conducted for Statistical Assessment Service and Center for Health and Risk Communication at George Mason University and is available at http://stats.org."

www.americanchemistry.com/newsroom

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) represents the leading companies engaged in the business of chemistry. ACC members apply the science of chemistry to make innovative products and services that make people's lives better, healthier and safer. ACC is committed to improved environmental, health and safety performance through Responsible Care(R), common sense advocacy designed to address major public policy issues, and health and environmental research and product testing. The business of chemistry is a $689 billion enterprise and a key element of the nation's economy. It is one of the nation's largest exporters, accounting for ten cents out of every dollar in U.S. exports. Chemistry companies are among the largest investors in research and development. Safety and security have always been primary concerns of ACC members, and they have intensified their efforts, working closely with government agencies to improve security and to defend against any threat to the nation's critical infrastructure.

SOURCE American Chemistry Council

Source: PR Newswire

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