Washington state’s legislature pursues BPA ban

Since the Food and Drug Administration has not acted on the controversial chemical bisphenol A, many states will consider their own bans of the chemical this legislative season.

In Washington state, legislators in the House and Senate will consider bills that would regulate BPA, according to an Associated Press story.

The bills would ban BPA in food and drink containers intended for use by children under the age of 3. The ban would include baby bottles, which have been a lightening rod in the BPA controversy.  If passed, the ban would go into effect July 1, 2010.

BPA was originally developed as a synthetic sex hormone and it mimics estrogen in the body. Scientific studies have linked low levels of BPA exposure to a myriad of health problems, including tumor growth, infertility, heart disease and diabetes. Canada recently banned the chemical, but the FDA has failed to act. The FDA’s own scientific advisory panel has warned about the dangers of BPA exposure. Several recent studies have shown infants are particularly vulnerable to BPA.

"The issue of children's health always takes precedence," said Sen. Karen Keiser, who is sponsoring the Senate’s measure. "I'm not confident with the FDA's assessment and I always think it's better to be safe."

A SAFER coalition member – Washington Toxics Coalition – is supporting the bill.

"BPA is clearly a chemical that has fallen through the cracks," said Ivy Sager-Rosenthal, campaign director for the Washington Toxics Coalition, an environmental group pushing for the bill. "With safe alternatives already available, it has no business in baby containers or bottles."

To tell Washington legislators that you support a ban on BPA, click here.