Concerned consumers have known for a long time that Bisphenol-A (BPA) is bad stuff.
From heart disease to erectile dysfunction, researchers have linked BPA to a whole host of problems, but the Bush administration assured Americans this chemical was safe.
President Obama is not so sure, thus the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will conduct a $30 million study on the health effects of BPA.
In case you live in a bubble and don’t know what BPA is, it is a chemical used in hard plastics and tin cans. From baby bottles to sippy cups, young children are exposed repeatedly during their formative years. In response to a lack of concern by the federal government, cities, states, and legislators have warned and attempted to ban BPA from kids’ products. Will Obama’s new study result in legislation, or will the chemical lobby win again? The Los Angeles Times reports:
The FDA announcement “is hopefully the start of comprehensive regulation of this dangerous chemical,” said state Sen. Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills), author of Senate Bill 797, the Toxin-free Toddlers and Babies Act, which, in conjunction with the California Green Chemistry Initiative, seeks to ban the use of BPA in food and beverage containers for children younger than 3 in California. Pavley said she is “battling the powerful chemical industry,” which has defeated previous bills.
In a statement reacting to the FDA decision, the American Chemistry Council said it was disappointed in some of the agency’s conclusions. “Extensive scientific studies have shown that BPA is quickly metabolized and excreted and does not accumulate in the body. … Plastics made with BPA contribute safety and convenience to our daily lives because of their durability, clarity and shatter-resistance.”
Will the Obama administration finally turn hope into action and outlaw BPA from plastics? It is not only children, but humans of all ages that need to be protected from this substance. Alternatives exist. We should not let the American Chemistry Council dictate our family’s health.
Leave a Reply