A study by the French National Institute of Agronomic Research (INRA) found even low doses of BPA caused a negative reaction in the intestine of rats – a commonly used analog for humans in medical research. The report was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The report focused on the digestive tract as the first organ the chemical comes into contact with after being consumed.

INRA’s research was also carried out on human intestine cells and revealed the chemical lowered the permeability of the intestines and the immune system’s response to digestive inflammation. In their rat studies they also found that newborn rats exposed to BPA in the uterus and during feeding have a higher risk of developing severe intestinal inflammation in adulthood.

You would be wise to avoid contamination frim BPA — or further contamination, since you have almost certainly already been exposed to this chemical.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said the meeting was being organised in response to the general uncertainty over the safety of BPA. They pin-pointed the misgivings over a raft of possible adverse human health effects from the chemical on reproduction, the nervous system and on behavioural development, as well as the relatively higher exposure of very young children compared with adults. The meeting is scheduled to be held in Canada in October 2010.

The agencies commented that the large body of research highlighting the toxicity and endocrine activity of BPA in animals, and the discrepancies of study findings relating to the nature of the effects observed and the levels at which they occur, were also major drivers behind calling for the meeting.

“It is notable that the effects in some of the research studies were described at dose levels several orders of magnitude below those at which effects were reported in the standard guideline (regulatory) studies following OECD test guidelines,” said the WHO.

Meanwhile, the FDA continues to drag its heels. Despite assurances, no updates on the BPA issue have been forthcoming.

Don’t wait — avoid BPA now. Demand BPA-free food packaging.

BPA, used in the manufacture of polycarbonate and other plastics, has already been linked to cardiovascular disease and diabetes in humans and disrupted reproductive development in animals. The chemical is commonly found in drinking bottles, baby bottles and sipper cups as well as dentistry composites and sealants and in the lining of aluminum food and beverage cans.

The FDA was due to release it’s finding on November 30, 2009. Despite providing assurances that the review was on track as recently as mid November the FDA has now indicated that it needs more time to review the scientific literature. Perhaps the industry and the American Chemistry Council are getting to the FDA. They are the ones with money and credibility at stake. Don’t wait for (trust?) the FDA — avoid BPA now.