The Department of Public Health in the US state of Massachusetts (DPH; www.mass.gov/dph) has joined the ongoing discussion on the health effects of the polycarbonate feedstock bisphenol A and has advised parents of children up to two years old not to use any products containing BPA to store infant formula or breast milk. It urges parents to use glass or stainless steel containers instead.

DPH’s announcement, which pointed to several studies on animals that it said had “raised concerns,” followed passage of the new US food safety bill in early August. The bill contains a clause calling on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to complete its review of BPA by the end of 2009. The agency has come under fire for repeatedly given the chemical a clean bill of health, despite the lack of conclusive evidence as to the safe level of human exposure. The FDA was due to conclude a new study late last year – see Plasteurope.com of 22.10.2008.

Along with its application in polycarbonate bottles, BPA is a feedstock for epoxy resins used as food can liners. Its use in baby bottles has already been banned in several US states. Canada – which has declared the substance a health hazard – is conducting lengthy studies to back a ban on its use in baby bottles and possibly other applications.