Beyond BPA: Could 'BPA-free' products be just as unsafe?

Source: The Atlantic, April 2011

As findings on the negative health effects of Bisphenol A (BPA) in plastics continues to grow, production of new plastics for BPA-free bottles, can liners, and similar materials is on the rise. But the quick spread of new plastics has sparked consumer curiosity of the new materials and whether they are any safer than BPA.

One concern is that there is not enough information on the new plastics. The only information available comes from the manufacturers, who at times exclude toxicity data and test results for the material’s environmental effects. Federal agencies should conduct safety testing of the new materials before they are released on the market in consumer products.