Illinois' major newspapers favor BPA ban

Three of Illinois’ leading newspapers have come out in favor of a state bill that would ban bisphenol A from children’s beverage containers like baby bottles and sippy cups.

The Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times and the Daily Herald all have published editorials voicing strong support for the ban.

The bill, called the Child-Safe Chemicals Act, would prohibit the sale or distribution of food or drink containers containing BPA, which are intended for use by children under the age of 4.

It is being sponsored by Rep. Elaine Nekritz and will likely be up for a vote today or tomorrow.

The Chicago Tribune notes that BPA poses such a threat to young children, that the time to act is now.

Studies have linked BPA to diabetes, heart disease, and impaired function of the brain, uterus and prostate. There's more: Infants can have 12 times as much BPA in their system as adults do. Early exposure can do serious harm to their still-developing reproductive organs.

Canada has banned BPA from baby bottles. The FDA? Last year it said BPA was safe for humans—after it considered only studies that had been financed by the plastics industry. The FDA is doing a new evaluation of BPA now.

The Chicago Sun-Times points out that the National Toxicology Program has said that there is “some concern” that children’s current exposure to BPA is enough to cause health problems.

"Some concern" is more than enough concern for us. While the chemical industry sees no health risks with BPA, a legion of scientists not bankrolled by the industry does.

The Daily Herald notes the Food and Drug Administration’s failure to act on BPA. While it has released recommendations that parents use glass baby bottles if they’re concerned about BPA exposure, it has not taken the steps needed to protect America’s children.

This is not a time for the sort of bureaucratic malaise that has permitted numerous food-spread infections to spread like wildfire or that permitted the prevalent use of DDT - like BPA an "endocrine disrupter."