Update on BPA

The message is clear: Americans are getting fed up with the use of Bisphenol-A (BPA) in a tremendous number of products in our lives. Pick up most newspapers, journals and magazines and you will see articles showing health effects and concern over BPA use.

Scientific studies have linked BPA to known health effects including impaired brain and reproductive development in unborn babies, miscarriage in pregnant women, diabetes, obesity and cancer. Populations that are particularly vulnerable to BPA are infants, childrena and pregnant women.

We are watching movement on BPA on many fronts. Here's a round up of BPA news this week:

HEARING IN WASHINGTON STATE

Health advocates in Washington State are working to pass the Safe Baby Bottle Act and today, January 11, there will be a hearing in the Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee at the State Capitol. Among experts speaking out against BPA will be Dr. Patricia Hunt -- a nationally recognized expert on BPA. About BPA, Dr. Hunt has said,

"I would love to see it banished off the face of the Earth."

NO MOVEMENT IN THE FDA

As we reported in December, we are awaiting a decision from the FDA about the safety of BPA. Though there have been promises of a decision, the FDA has blown through several deadlines without much explanation.

Janet Nudelman, policy director of the Breast Cancer Fund, spoke with the Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel:

"I'm extremely frustrated by the FDA delay, and I'm even more frustrated by their silence about the delay. Each day it further delays taking action, more newborn babies, children and pregnant women are left unprotected from this hormone-disrupting compound linked to breast cancer and birth defects."

MINNESOTA BAN GOES INTO EFFECT

As of January 1, Minnesota became the first state in the nation to have a BPA law in effect. The Minnesota law bans the use of BPA in sippy cups and baby bottles.

Many other states are hoping to follow in Minnesota's footsteps. In the Huffington Post, Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) wrote about the work she will be doing to help ban BPA :

"We simply cannot allow Americans, especially children, to be used as guinea pigs while federal bureaucrats sift through evidence that has convinced so many other authorities of the clear fact that this chemical is harmful to health."

WISCONSIN BILL ENTERS THE LEGISLATURE

Wisconsin entered the esteemed group of states working to ban BPA with the introduction of a bill which would be similar to Minnesota's in banning BPA from sippy cups and bottles. The bill is currently in committee, and sponsors are hoping to pass the bill quickly. "We cannot wait for the FDA to act," said State Senator Julie Lassa. "Wisconsin needs to act now to protect our youngest citizens."

Further reading:

FDA to miss third deadline on BPA ruling. Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel, 12/29/09. 

When will FDA speak out on toxic plastics chemical BPA? Breast Cancer Fund, 12/11/09. 

Minnesota becomes first state to ban chemical BPA in baby products. Daily Finance, 12/31/09. 

Time to ban BPA from food and beverage containers. Huffington Post, 12/18/09.