Media Advisory

Monday, February 26, 2007

Independent Panel to Evaluate Widely Used Chemical, Bisphenol A

What: An independent panel of 15 scientists convened by the Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction (CERHR), of the NIEHS and National Toxicology Program, will review recent scientific data and reach conclusions regarding whether or not exposure to a commonly used chemical, Bisphenol A (BPA) is hazardous to human development or reproduction.

Details about the meeting, including panelists and agenda, are posted on the NTP website http://cerhr.niehs.nih.gov/news/fedreg/fr-12-12-06.pdf 

When: March 5, 8:30 a.m. — 5:00 p.m. (Time is set aside on March 5th for oral public comments, limited to seven minutes per speaker or organization)
March 6, 8:00 a.m. — 5:00 p.m.
March 7, 8:00 a.m.— noon

Press Availability: Immediately following the meeting on Wednesday, March 7, 2006 at approximately 12:30. The expert panel meeting may end earlier or later than 12:00, depending on when the panel completes its deliberations.

At the meeting, the expert panel will review and revise the draft expert panel report on BPA available at BPA Draft Report (http://cerhr.niehs.nih.gov/chemicals/bisphenol/Bispehnol_A_Draft_Report.pdf) and write its summary, conclusions and critical data needs. The 2.5 day scientific meeting is open to members of the public and the media.

Where: Washington Ballroom
Radisson Hotel Old Town
901 N. Fairfax Street,
Alexandria VA 22314-1501, USA
Tel: (703) 683-6000
Fax: (703) 683-7597
http://www.radisson.com/alexandriava.

Why: Bisphenol A (BPA) is a high production volume chemical used in the production of polycarbonate plastic and several types of resins. Polycarbonate plastics are widely used in a variety of products including food and drink containers, CDs, DVDs, electrical and electronic equipment, automobiles, sports safety equipment. Resins are used as a protective lining in metal food and drink containers and water supply pipes. In vitro and animal data indicate that BPA may mimic the natural female sex hormone, estradiol. Exposure to the general population can occur through direct contact to BPA or by exposure to food or drink that has been in contact with material containing BPA.

The Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction (CERHR) selected this compound for evaluation because of its high volume of production, widespread human exposure, evidence of reproductive toxicity in animal studies, and public interest and concern.

Background: The Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction (CERHR) was established by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) as part of the National Toxicology Program in 1998. Michael Shelby, Ph.D., serves as the CERHR Director. CERHR convenes a scientific expert panel that meets in a public forum to review, discuss, and evaluate the scientific literature on a selected chemical. CERHR selects chemicals for evaluation based upon several factors including production volume, extent of human exposure, public concern, and the extent of published information from reproductive and developmental toxicity studies. The NTP is a DHHS program established in 1978. It is headquartered at the NIEHS, a part of the National Institutes of Health. The NIEHS Director, David A. Schwartz, M.D., serves as the NTP Director.

Registration: No registration is required. Members of the media interested in attending the press availability immediately following the meeting or arranging on-site or phone interviews with the panel Chair or with CERHR staff, please contact Robin Mackar at (919) 541-0073 or by email at rmackar@niehs.nih.gov.

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), a component of the National Institutes of Health, supports research to understand the effects of the environment on human health. For more information on environmental health topics, please visit our website at http://www.niehs.nih.gov/.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.

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