New England Currents|Online, Summer 2009 - Update

Clean Water Calls for BPA-Free Children's Products

If you were at the beach or on vacation mid-summer, you may have missed this announcement but... after months of determined prodding from Clean Water Action and the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) issued a consumer warning on bisphenol-A (BPA) in August. Why is this important? BPA is a toxic chemical that leaches from polycarbonate plastics and the linings of food and beverage cans such as baby bottles, sippy cups, infant formula, and canned sodas and soups. It mimics the hormone estrogen and disrupts the body's endocrine system, leading to potential health damage including breast cancer, obesity, diabetes, and early onset of puberty, among others. And BPA has been found in the bodies of 93% of Americans tested.

The DPH warning states that children under the age of two, pregnant women, and chemotherapy patients should, where possible, avoid products that contain BPA.

Clean Water Action BPA Campaign Coordinator Mia Davis commented, "By issuing this warning, Baystate health officials have confirmed that the science is clear and exposure to BPA is dangerous. While this is an important first step, a warning will not adequately protect Massachusetts residents, particularly developing children. Families want children's products sold in Massachusetts stores to be BPA-free."

The DPH has the legal power in Massachusetts to ban the sale of toxic household products that are hazardous to children. Connecticut recently became the first state in the nation to ban the toxic chemical from infant formula and baby food cans and jars, as well as the full range of reusable food and beverage containers. Connecticut's progress follows government action in Canada, Minnesota, multiple New York State counties, and the city of Chicago that prevents the sale of BPA (polycarbonate) baby bottles, and in some cases, sippy cups.

Clean Water and our allies have asked the DPH to regulate the sale of all products containing BPA intended for use by children 3 years of age and under and that may be mouthed or ingested. Leading experts at Tufts University joined with us in calling for a full BPA ban.

"Scientists working on BPA have known for years that it can cause harm during development, making us particularly concerned about BPA exposure in children and fetuses," said Laura Vandenberg, PhD, a Research Scientist at Tufts University who has published extensively on Bisphenol A. "The release of this warning shows that the DPH is now paying attention, but only a ban on BPA will protect fetuses and young children from unnecessary risk."

As the evidence linking BPA to many of the leading health epidemics of our times continues to mount, how has the chemical industry responded? With a no-holds-barred campaign across the country to: 1. cast doubt on the growing volumes of science that sounds the alarm on BPA, and 2. obstruct action that would remove BPA from food and beverage containers. American Chemistry Council reps were recently quoted in the Boston Globe dismissing these health concerns as "emotional discourse" that "unnecessarily alarms parents".

But families across Massachusetts are helping to lead the charge in fighting back: "Connecticut has protected its children, don't children in Massachusetts deserve the same protection?" asked Cheryl Durr Patry, mother of 4 from Medfield. "I urge our state officials to rise to the standards set by our neighbors to the south."

What YOU Can Do: Make Your Voice Heard Today! Contact Governor Patrick at 617-725-4005 and ask for a ban on BPA in food and beverage containers similar to the one recently signed in to law by Governor Rell (R-CT).