BPA Ban Growing in States
March, 2010 was historic for two states when both Wisconsin and Washington State Governors signed into law bills that seek to eliminate the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) from baby bottles, sippy cups, and other children’s products.
With passage of the bill, Washington becomes only the second state to ban BPA in sports bottles, and the fourth state to ban the chemical in baby bottles and other children’s food and beverage containers. Minnesota and Connecticut passed bans in 2009. Currently, there are several other states, including Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont that have similar legislation pending, either banning the manufacture, sale and distribution of BPA or identifying and labeling products containing known or suspected toxins while seeking safer alternatives.
BPA is a synthetic sex hormone that research links to health effects, including cancer, miscarriage, obesity, reproductive problems, and hyperactivity. Recent scientific studies also show infants are more susceptible to BPA because it stays longer in their bodies than adults. Research also shows exposure to BPA puts girls at an increased risk of breast cancer. Earlier this year, the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) registered its concern about BPA, citing evidence that BPA affects the brain, behavior, and prostate gland in fetuses, infants, and young children.
Janet Haebler, MSN, RN
Tags: bisphenol A, BPA, FDA, March 2010
