RODALE NEWS, EMMAUS, PA—A trio of lawmakers have introduced legislation that could force a federal ban on the chemical bisphenol A (BPA), a hormone-disrupting chemical sometimes found in the linings of soda, food, and baby formula cans, and in the makeup of some water and baby bottles. BPA has been linked to possible developmental problems in fetuses, infants, and children; heart disease, diabetes, and liver problems in adults; and in animal studies to increased breast and prostate cancer risk.
THE DETAILS: U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.), and U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) are leading the charge to eradicate this chemical from all food and beverage containers under The Ban Poisonous Additives Act of 2009. The act would ban the use of BPA in reusable beverage containers, including baby bottles, thermoses, and water bottles. Canned food and beverages (including infant formula) containing BPA could not be sold, either. One catch: If a manufacturer can prove there's no technology available to make a food or beverage container without using BPA, the Food and Drug Administration can choose to administer a one-year waiver that could be renewed annually. However, the company would be required to list on the label that BPA was used.
Some manufacturers have already seen the writing on the wall. Earlier this month, Avent, Disney First Year, Gerber, Dr. Brown, Playtex, and Evenflow announced they plan to ban BPA in baby bottles. On Sunday, Sunoco announced it wasn't going to sell the chemical to companies that planned to use it in products for kids under 3 years old.
WHAT IT MEANS: There's growing evidence in nonindustry-funded studies that BPA poses a health risk, even in low doses. Its estrogenlike properties could cause miscarriage, low sperm count, and early-onset puberty. The jury's still out on the exact threat, and even different government agencies can't seem to agree. (The FDA claims it's safe, but the Department of Health and Human Services' National Toxicology Program cited "some concern" that BPA could cause neurological problems in fetuses, babies, and children.) But passing this into law would signal that the U.S. is moving toward a more European Union-type way of thinking about chemicals: take them out of consumer products for further testing if they appear to be causing problems. "Evidence is mounting that exposure to this chemical is dangerous for developing children," Feinstein says. "Americans should not be used as guinea pigs by chemical companies while we wait, potentially for several years, for more scientific evidence to show this chemical is harmful to our health. The time has come to take action."
While the legislation moves through Congress, here are some steps you can take:
• Contact your reps. Take a minute to call or write your elected officials and tell them to get the potentially harmful chemicals out of consumer products. Find and contact your senators or representative.
• Bottle it in something else. Plastic containers labeled as No. 7 (look on the bottom of the bottle or container), which includes polycarbonate (PC) and "other" types, can contain BPA and are considered the most dangerous. But other types of plastics contain different chemicals that are harmful. We suggest using stainless steel water bottles and glass baby bottles. If that's not possible, avoid plastic baby bottle liners, use safer plastics like Nos. 2 and 5. And keep your plastic out of the dishwasher and microwave, since heat can induce even more leaching.
• Find the right formula. If you don't breastfeed, avoid canned types for your baby. Environmental Working Group found that canned formulas contained BPA that may be coming from the lining of the cans. By the way, most canned foods have a BPA lining; Eden Foods is one exception.