1. Wikipedia
2. USA Today
The containers in question are made of polycarbonate which are food containers, tableware, clear water bottles and baby bottles. PET is the plastic If you want to avoid this kind of packaging look for "7" or PC. There are also polymer liner coatings used in food cans. PET bottles used for beverages do not contain BPA and are considered safe although the plastic has been known to leech very small amounts of acetaldehyde (ethanol).
According to the research so far, (and the jury is still out) studies have shown some concerning fetal and infant brain development and affects to the male prostate gland as well as, mammary gland, earlier age for puberty in females. The problem is compounded when hot liquids are heated or placed in these containers. Exactly what you do to infants formulas or when sterilizing these bottles for use. Scary stuff indeed. Not only that, but the manufacturers are removing these bottles from the shelves on their own.
If you really watch the two hour Senate video, you will Senator Charles E. Schumer talk about the bill that he is sponsoring; The "BPA Free Kids Act of 2008" (S 2928) banning detectable amounts of BPA in Childrens products.
Dr. Norris Alderson, Associate Commissioner for Science, FDA and Dr. Marylin Wind, Deputy Associate Executive Director for Health Sciences, Consumer Product Safety commission came under heavy scrutiny from the Senate committee.
Dr. Alderson who also Chairs the BPA task force said that BPA used in food contact substances is regulated under FDA title 21 but is in "very low" parts per billion range. By the way a part per billion is one part per 1,000,000,000 parts. He did go on to say that a large body of evidence currently available shows that these products are safe. (27:00) He stated his case and seemed a little defensive while he fielded questions from Senator Nelson and Kerry. In my opinion, he did not stand up to the Senators' questioning very well.
One high part for me was when Senator Nelson held up a sports bottle that you would find in any sporting goods store and demanded that Dr Alderson tell him if the bottle as safe to drink from. (1:02:20)
Later, Senator Kerry began to tongue lash both Doctors starting around 1:20 directly comparing this chemical to flame retardant children's pajamas, cribs that kill and the Chevy Corvair. Then the Senator went off on a tangent asking about hair care products that contain estrogen. Senator Kerry went so far as to quote his book around 1:25:50.
The frenzy over this issue reminds me of the Saccharin ban. Saccharin as you may remember, was to be banned in 1977 also based on a Canadian study, however under public pressure, Congress delayed the ban by requiring anything with this ingredient carry a warning label. This ban was lifted in 2001 by the Clinton Administration and is no longer considered a threat. . . although there are experts who still advise to avoid this chemical.
My thoughts are that this is about risk: There are risks every day when you walk out the door. What is the risk to drinking from a bottle that contains BPA. Very-very low if any. If you are a manufacturer of glass containers thinking that this will be good for your industry, there are risks to drinking and feeding your children from glass too with regards to glass fragments in the product.
Now with the readily available internet, you can find risk to nearly every single packaging component, chemical, food or food additive, sugar, even water. If you want to play along, enter your item and then the word "risk" after it in a google search.
Don't think that today's focus on BPA won't be tomorrows Senate hearing on a chemical found in your container or product. There is no industry that can stand up to this kind of scrutiny. Be ready in advance with the studies that prove your case. Please feel free to give me your comments on this issue.
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