New York senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer announced this week their intention of introducing the BPA-Free Kids Act, which would ban the chemical BPA from all food containers used by infants and toddlers. BPA (bisphenol A) is used to make polycarbonate plastics used in many consumer products including DVDs, food storage containers and sports and medical equipment. It is also used to line the insides of food and beverage cans. The concern with BPA is in it’s estrogen-like effects on the human body. Because it can leach from food containers and lining of cans into our food, there has been a great deal of concern regarding its effects on human development. The NIH has previously cautioned about BPA’s potential risks in puberty, breast cancer, and prostate effects. Pregnant women and children appear to be most vulnerable. Currently, a proposed federal ban on BPA in all food containers is pending in Congress and some two dozen states have pending bills that would restrict BPA. In 2004 over 1 million tons of the chemical was produced in the U.S. alone. [via MSNBC]
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Tags: bisphenol A, BPA, BPA-Free Kids Act, Charles Schumer, estrogen, Kirsten Gillibrand
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Dr. Steven Chang, the author of DailyDose, is a staff physician with Kosmix RightHealth. Dr. Chang practices Family Medicine at the University of California Davis Medical Center, where his medical interests include both pediatric and geriatric care, public health, gay and lesbian health, and sleep medicine. Dr. Chang trained at the Stanford University affiliated O'Connor Hospital, and was a research fellow at the National Institute of Health. He holds an M.D. from McGill University and a BA in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.
December 16th, 2009 at 6:36 am
If their is any daught whats so ever that it can effect
human developpement it should be removed . Lets not wait for tragedy before making action.
That my opinion.
Thank You
LUCILLE.
December 16th, 2009 at 7:29 am
What I’d like to know is how do these harmful chemicals get into consumer products? Is there no regulation for products sold in this country? If we know BPA causes cancer and who knows what else. Why is it not pulled from the consumer market right away?
It’s sad to think we are not protecting our children from BPA. What can I do as a parent and grandmother to help??????…………………………………
December 16th, 2009 at 9:04 am
BPA should be scrapped.
If they know that it causes problems and diseases we dont want
it, to be used in anything at all! Especialy childrens products,
I think it is desgraceful for companies to do such a thing like
that ! It must be removed from the market.
Pauline.
December 16th, 2009 at 9:10 am
does platelets have any effect on skin?
December 16th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
It’s about time. Refreshing to finally have leaders committed to the protection of our children before the protection of profits for corporations.
December 16th, 2009 at 6:22 pm
How do these noxious chemicals get approved in the first place, is there no testing before
these chemicals are put in the consumer market goods and especially in childrens products.
Where are the gate keepers to protect the public???