DRAFT

                                       MEETING SUMMARY



                  NATIONAL TOXICOLOGY PROGRAM

     CENTER FOR THE EVALUATION OF RISKS TO HUMAN REPRODUCTION

                     EXPERT PANEL EVALUATION OF BISPHENOL A

                                 AUGUST 6-8, 2007



The National Toxicology Program (NTP) Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction

(CERHR) convened an expert panel on August 6-8, 2007, in Alexandria, Virginia to evaluate bisphenol A.

This was the second public meeting of the expert panel, a group of 12 independent scientists convened to

review and assess scientific studies on the potential reproductive and developmental hazards of Bisphenol

A.



Expert Panel Conclusions



For pregnant women and fetuses:



The Expert Panel expressed some concern that exposure to Bisphenol A in utero causes neural and

behavioral effects.



The Expert Panel expressed minimal concern that exposure to Bisphenol A in utero causes effects on the

prostate.



The Expert Panel expressed minimal concern that exposure to Bisphenol A in utero potentially causes

accelerations in puberty.



The Expert Panel expressed negligible concern that exposure to Bisphenol A in utero produces birth

defects and malformations.



For infants and children:



The Expert Panel expressed some concern that exposure to Bisphenol A causes neural and behavioral

effects.



The Expert Panel had expressed minimal concern that exposure to Bisphenol A potentially causes

accelerations in puberty.



For adults:



The Expert Panel expressed negligible concern for adverse reproductive effects following exposures in the

general population to Bisphenol A. For highly exposed subgroups, such as occupationally exposed

populations, the level of concern is elevated to minimal.



[The conclusions noted above are those of the Bisphenol A Expert Panel and should not be construed to

represent the views of the NTP.]



Background on Bisphenol A



Bisphenol A is a high production volume chemical used primarily in the production of polycarbonate

plastics and epoxy resins. Polycarbonate plastics are used in food and drink packaging; resins are used as

lacquers to coat metal products such as food cans, bottle tops, and water supply pipes. Some polymers used

in dental sealants and tooth coatings contain bisphenol A. Exposure to the general population can occur

through direct contact with bisphenol A or by exposure to food or drink that has been in contact with a

material containing bisphenol A. CERHR selected this chemical for evaluation because of (1) high

production volume, (2) widespread human exposure, (3) evidence of reproductive toxicity in laboratory

animal studies, and (4) public concern.



The expert panel reviewed and evaluated the available scientific data on bisphenol A in three primary

areas: human exposure, reproductive toxicity, and developmental toxicity. In their deliberations, the expert

panel considered the quality, quantity, and strength of the scientific evidence that exposure to bisphenol A

might cause adverse effects on human reproduction and/or development of the fetus or infant. The expert

panel identified gaps in the available scientific data on the possible effects of bisphenol A and suggested

areas where additional research is needed.



Next Steps

The final expert panel report on bisphenol A will be posted on the CERHR web site

(http://cerhr.niehs.nih.gov) and available in printed text from CERHR in fall 2007. CERHR will solicit

public comments on this report through an announcement in the Federal Register. Following this comment

period, CERHR will prepare the NTP-CERHR monograph on bisphenol A consisting of an NTP brief, the

expert panel report, and all public comments on that report. The NTP brief contains the NTP’s opinion

regarding whether current human exposures to bisphenol A are a risk for human development and

reproduction. CERHR will solicit public comment on the NTP brief, after which it will undergo

independent peer review. NTP will consider the public and peer review comments before finalizing the

brief. The monographs will be available to the public in PDF format on the CERHR web site and in

hardcopy by contacting CERHR and will be distributed to appropriate federal health and regulatory

agencies.



Background on CERHR

The NTP established CERHR in 1998 as an environmental health resource to the public and to regulatory

and health agencies. CERHR provides scientifically based, uniform assessments of the potential for

adverse effects on reproduction and/or development caused to man-made or naturally occurring chemicals

or chemical mixtures to which humans are exposed. CERHR convenes independent panels of scientific

experts to conduct its evaluations. Expert panel meetings are open to the public and the public is invited to

nominate scientists to serve on these panels. Following completion of the evaluation of a chemical, the

NTP prepares an a NTP-CERHR monograph that contains its opinion on the potential for the chemical to

be a reproductive and/or developmental hazard, the expert panel report, and public comments received on

the final expert panel report. NTP-CERHR monographs on other chemicals evaluated by CERHR include

seven phthalates, methanol, 1-bromopropane, 2-bromopropane, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol,

fluoxetine, acrylamide, amphetamines, methylphenidate, and styrene. These monographs are available on

the CERHR website and in hardcopy or CD from CERHR.



Questions about the expert panel review of bisphenol A or about CERHR can be directed to Dr. Michael

Shelby, CERHR Director, at 919-541-3455 or shelby@niehs.nih.gov.

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