Released on: May 26, 2008, 8:16 am

Press Release Author: Claude Reiss / Antidote Europe

Industry: Biotech

Press Release Summary: The results of a new scientific analysis revealing the
dangers of bisphenol A (BPA) have been conveyed to the French Agency for Food Safety
(AFSSA), the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) as well as the Canadian Health
Authorities. The analysis was commissioned by the group, Antidote Europe. BPA is a
key component in many plastic products, ranging from plastic baby bottles to food
containers and even CDs. Canada is the first country in the world to complete a risk
assessment of BPA, and to initiate a public consultation on whether to completely
ban polycarbonate baby bottles which contain the substance.

Press Release Body: A close examination of BPA using an advanced scientific
technique called toxicogenomics showed that normal gene activity was severely
compromised. Human cell cultures exposed to BPA and its by-products caused the genes
in the cells to behave as if the cells were becoming diseased. The early warning
signs indicated the cells were headed for disease processes associated with cancer,
hormone imbalance and Parkinson's and Alzheimer\'s disease.

Animal tests conducted in the 1980s showed BPA to be safe in human food. Since then,
however, BPA has become suspect at causing health problems, especially in unborn
children, at very low concentrations. Says Dr Claude Reiss, president of Antidote
Europe, "with more than 250 rat strains and 330 mouse strains to choose from, it is
not surprising that the health authorities have been confused for the past 25 years
and unbelievably slow to recognise the dangers to human health of BPA. That is why
we used human cells in our analysis".

Notes to editors:

A \"proof of principle\" as to the efficacy of toxicogenomics as a screening method
has been demonstrated in a study by Antidote Europe on several test chemicals*,
including BPA and ingredients found in pesticides and cosmetics. The results have
been logged in ArrayExpress* in compliance with the MIAME (Minimum Information About
a Microarray Experiment) database. Ref. E-TOXM-31 and A-MEXP-798.

Antidote Europe is a non profit NGO, comprising research scientists with past
careers at the French-based Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
sharing a common goal of improving human health.

* http://www.antidote-europe.org/substances_gb.htm
* http://www.antidote-europe.org/cp25jun07_gb.htm

Web Site: http://www.antidote-europe.org

Contact Details: 25 rue Jacques Callot - 66000 Perpignan - France
info@antidote-europe.org
Tel : 33 (0)4 68 80 53 32