"Manufacturing uncertainty." It's a common tactic for companies whose products have undergone scrutiny by the scientific community. Here in our nation's illustrious capital there's no shortage of science-for-hire firms, who make their money by producing dubious reports in defense of whatever industry is paying their bills this month. Even well-intentioned organizations, like the National Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition, are not immune to industry's money -- you may recall how, this fall, their board released an industry-supported statement advising women to eat more mercury-laden fish, despite the contrary position of every significant member-organization (including the FDA).
But with the recent flurry of news and reports around bisphenol A, one firm in particular is coming under scrutiny. The Congressional Energy and Commerce Committee has requested that the Weinberg Group produce records on their work around bisphenol A, that toxic plastics chemical found in polycarbonate water- and baby-bottles as well as the lining used in food cans. Evidence that the chemical has estrogenic effects is piling up, and committee chair Representative Dingell wants answers.
Why is the Weinberg Group suspect? Well, for starters, their findings on bisphenol A run contrary to what virtually every other respected scientific body has found. Then there's the group's history: In a 2003 letter to chemical manufacturer DuPont, the Weinberg Group offers to "harness, focus and involve the scientific and intellectual capital of our company with one goal in mind—creating the outcome our client desires.â€
It's been a while since I've studied the scientific method, but I'm pretty sure you're supposed to form your conclusions after you've done the analysis.
Representative Dingell also recently sent letters to each of the major baby formula manufacturers, asking them to supply all of the information they have on their use of BPA-lined cans for distributing infant formula. Last fall, an EWG analysis estimated that at BPA levels found in ready-to-eat liquid formula, 1 of every 16 infants fed the formula would be exposed to the chemical at doses exceeding those that caused harm in laboratory studies.
Congress and scientists are sorting out what to do about BPA, but you can take steps to minimize your exposure in the meantime.
Photo: The Mask by benjieordonez.