Should California ban BPA?

An emotionally charged battle is expected to come to a head today (Wednesday) when the California Assembly votes on banning the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) in baby bottles, sippy cups and containers of infant formula and baby food.

The chemical, which has been linked to cancers, infertility, early puberty and neurological disorders, is one of the most widely used in the world. The California vote is being closely watched around the nation: Several states and cities, including Connecticut, Minnesota and Chicago, have enacted BPA curbs, and federal restrictions are under consideration.

Chemical companies, infant formula makers, pharmaceutical firms, grocery chains and can manufacturers have mounted a ferocious lobbying campaign to defeat the bill in Sacramento. A BPA ban passed the California Senate in June but the Assembly vote is expected to be close, with half a dozen Los Angeles Democrats as swing votes.

Public health groups, including the Breast Cancer Fund, Planned Parenthood, several Red Cross chapters, and Physicians for Social Responsibility have been joined this year by the California Labor Federation and the California Teachers Assn. in pushing for the bill.

Got an opinion? Visit www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html and enter your ZIP Code to find which legislators represent your area.

-- Margot Roosevelt

Comments

[Gil Ross MD]

There is no valid science behind the attacks on BPA. Activists opposed to all chemicals and a few researchers whose careers have been devoted to demonizing BPA are behind these charges. BPA is essential in food packaging, and banning it in consumer products would leave us with either glass bottles or products made of less-tested and newer substances--BPA has been safely used for 50 years. There is no health-related reason to ban its use. G. Ross MD www.acsh.org

[Eve]

This country has a long history of neglecting the precautionary principle when it comes to both health and the environment. Follow in Canada's path on the BPA ban and look to it for lessons in healthcare reform.

[lida]

The chemical, which has been linked to cancers, infertility, early puberty and neurological disorders, is one of the most widely used in the world. The California vote is being closely watched around the nation: Several states and cities, including Connecticut, Minnesota and Chicago, have enacted BPA curbs, and federal restrictions are under consideration.

[Daniel Dykstra]

Yes. I believe that science has correctly determined that BPA should be banned from all use. I also believe that SOY should also be banned immediately. It has been proven over and over that it is toxic unless you look at the studies that carefully controlled "looking the other direction". You should also note that the U.S. government never approved this as a safe product and that the FDA accepted money to prevent it from being banned. I wish the FDA would do its job rather than be influenced by money and their back pockets.

[Christine]

Banning BPA is fine and good, but what are we replacing it with? Will we find 5, 10, 25 years down the line that this replacement causes just as many health risks as BPA. Time and money would be better spent increasing breastfeeding rates, therefore reducing infant exposure to BPA and other chemicals present in artificial feeding methods.

[mike]

ban bpa!!!

[steve rodriguez]

The Environmentalist have such a strangle hold on the country and the economy we can't even operate!!!!