Five-day BPA conference wraps up in Ottawa

The World Health Organization (WHO) has held a five-day meeting in Ottawa to evaluate the potential risks from the compound Bisphenol A (BPA).

According to WHO, it selected Ottawa as the site for the meeting because of Canada’s aggressive stance against BPA, used in the production of polycarbonate plastic and which critics suggest can contribute to the likelihood of breast and prostate cancer.

The focus of the meeting, which includes experts from the UN Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO), will be to study the transfer of BPA from cans into food and drinks and to identify groups vulnerable to the negative effects of the compound, such as pregnant women and fetuses.

“In the light of uncertainties about the possibility of adverse human health effects at low doses of BPA, especially on reproduction, the nervous system and on behavioural development, and considering the relatively higher exposure of very young children compared with adults, FAO and WHO will jointly organize an ad hoc expert meeting to assess the safety of BPA,” a WHO press release said. “Possible alternatives for BPA will also be considered and available information regarding uses and possible health concern will be summarized.”

Canada banned the use of BPA in infant feeding bottles and last month officially declared the compound as harmful.

Other participants in the Ottawa conference, which ran from November 2-5, included the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Food Safety Authority.

Conclusions and findings from the conference have not yet been made public.