Conn. lawmakers vote to ban BPA in food containers

Newsday.com: "Connecticut on Friday joined a growing number of state and local governments banning the sale of plastic baby bottles, food containers and cups containing Bisphenol-A.

The state House of Representatives gave final legislative approval to the ban, which already has been endorsed by the state Senate and now goes to Gov. M. Jodi Rell for her signature.

It would take effect Oct. 1, 2011."

First city to ban BPA

Chicago Environmental News Examiner: "Last week, Chicago's City Council voted to ban the sale of baby bottles and sippy cups manufactured with bisphenol-A. The ban was passed by a vote of 48 to 0, and will take effect in January. Violators will be subject to fines ranging from $100 to $500, and would run the risk of losing their business licenses.

Bisphenol-A, known as BPA, is used to harden plastics and can leach into the contents of a plastic container over time, especially when exposed to the heat of a microwave oven or dishwasher. Some studies suggest that BPA is linked to accelerated puberty, cancer risk, obesity and increased risk of diabetes and heart disease in adults."

Toxicologists say media, activists overstate chemical threats

ABC7.com: "As toxicologists see it, our chemical world is neither as dangerous as portrayed by the mainstream media and environmental groups, nor as safe as the American Chemistry Council and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) would have us believe.

That’s according to a survey of 937 members of the Society of Toxicology in early 2009. The survey, released Thursday, was administered by Harris Interactive and conducted by the nonprofit Statistical Assessment Service (STATS) and Center for Health and Risk Communication at George Mason University."

Opinion shifting against chemical

The Columbus Dispatch:"The National Conference of State Legislatures is tracking 57 bills in Congress and in 20 states, including Michigan and Pennsylvania, to restrict or ban products that contain bisphenol A.

There are no such plans in Ohio.

A number of businesses, including Nalgene Inc., the Rochester, N.Y.-based makers of reusable sport water bottles, say they are dropping bisphenol A from their products. Six baby bottle manufacturers, including Playtex and Gerber, announced in March that they were doing the same.

Abbott Nutrition, which has operations in Columbus, announced in May 2008 it would stop using BPA to line cans of baby formula.

But spokeswoman Tracey Noe said last week that the chemical is still being used while the company looks for an alternative.

'Each time that our formulas have been tested for BPA, the results are either undetectable or far below the safety limits established by regulatory agencies,' Noe said."

Plastic Bottle Chemical BPA Does Enter Body According to Study

AboutLawsuits.com: "The new study, conducted by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health, is likely to add additional fuel to the recent calls for a ban on the use of BPA in baby products like baby bottles and plastic sippy cups. Researchers found that regular consumption from bottles made with the chemical can result in increased BPA levels in human urine, confirming that BPA is absorbed by the body from the bottles.

According to the Harvard study, published this month in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, “Regular consumption of cold beverages from polycarbonate bottles is associated with a substantial increase in urinary BPA concentrations irrespective of exposure to BPA from other sources.” The report’s findings suggest that drinking from plastic bottles made with the chemical can increase the amount of BPA in the body by 69 percent."

Strategy Is Being Devises to Protect Use of Bisphenol A and Block U.S. Ban

washingtonpost.com: "Manufacturers of cans for beverages and foods and some of their biggest customers, including Coca-Cola, are trying to devise a public relations and lobbying strategy to block government bans of a controversial chemical used in the linings of metal cans and lids.

According to internal notes of a private meeting, obtained by The Washington Post, frustrated industry executives huddled for hours Thursday trying to figure out how to tamp down public concerns over the chemical bisphenol A, or BPA. The notes said the executives are particularly concerned about the views of young mothers, who often make purchasing decisions for households and who are most likely to be focused on health concerns."

Kathleen M. Roberts, a lobbyist with Bergeson and Campbell for the North American Metal Packaging Alliance, which represents makers of metal cans and their customers, organized Thursday's meeting and confirmed the accuracy of the notes. She said her members are concerned about bills pending in state legislatures as well as on Capitol Hill that would restrict or eliminate the use of BPA in metal cans. She said BPA is a safe compound that has been tarred by activist groups and that consumers do not fully appreciate its importance.

"We had discussions about whether people really understand what the ramifications would be if BPA were eliminated and alternatives aren't in place," Roberts said. "Everything was on the table, it was a brainstorming session, and no particular decisions have been made."

A commercial alternative to BPA does exist; Japan has significantly reduced its use of BPA in many canned goods. Roberts acknowledged that alternatives are available but not for all uses currently in the marketplace.

California EPA to Pronounce on BPA

On January 18, 2008, OEHHA requested information relevant to the assessment of the evidence of developmental and reproductive toxicity for bisphenol A.  The initial 60-day data call-in period was extended an additional 60 days and closed on April 17, 2008.  OEHHA staff evaluated the significant volume of information that was received.  OEHHA has completed the hazard identification materials for bisphenol A and announces the availability of the document entitled: "Evidence on the Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity of Bisphenol A." *  The DARTIC will use these documents at its July 15 meeting to consider whether bisphenol A should be added to the Proposition 65 list as a chemical known to cause reproductive toxicity.

The DARTIC will consider the listing of bisphenol A at its next meeting on Wednesday, July 15, 2009.  The meeting will be held in the Auditorium of the Elihu Harris State Building, 1515 Clay Street, Oakland, California.

This notice marks the beginning of a 60-day public comment period.  Copies of the document are available on OEHHA's web site below, or may be requested by calling (916) 445-6900.