Position: FAVORABLE
Phthalates are chemical substances that make PVC plastic soft and flexible. They are widely used in products such as food wrappings, vinyl shower curtains, and cosmetics. They are also used in soft plastic toys and other baby products, such as teething rings and rattles. Phthalates can leach out of plastic over time. Children, who have a natural tendency to suck on objects and put things in their mouths, are particularly vulnerable to phthalates.
Bisphenol-A is an industrial chemical used to make polycarbonate plastic – a type of plastic that is popular due to properties such as shatter-resistance and high heat resistance. It is used in water bottles, baby feeding bottles, microwave ovenware and eating utensils. Like phthalates, bisphenol-A can leach out these products and enter our bodies.
Both phthalates and bisphenol-A are found in just about every part of our bodies — blood, urine, even amniotic fluid. Exposure is widespread and involuntary. That is indisputable.
What you will hear today is mixed scientific evidence about the effects of phthalates and bisphenol-A on developing children. Industry experts will say evidence is lacking, while public health advocates will say it is mounting. We believe the latter.
Evidence has been mounting that phthalates and bisphenol-A could be altering the hormones and harming the reproductive systems of babies. The compounds have been shown in hundreds of laboratory studies to mimic estrogen or block testosterone and feminize animals.
Exposure to pregnant mothers carrying boys is particularly worrisome. In animal studies, a single dose of one phthalate at the wrong time leaves "permanent and profound effects" on the embryo. Phthalates block male hormones, causing feminization of reproductive tracts in laboratory animals. Dozens of studies on lab animals show evidence of this.
Several human studies have linked phthalates with changes in sperm, genitals and hormone production. Exposure to phthalates has been linked to undescended testicles and malformed urinary tracts, conditions which have doubled in baby boys in the U.S. from 1970-1993.
A recent study looked at phthalate levels in the urine of 85 pregnant women, then studied the genital development of their babies. The boys from the most highly exposed mothers were ten times more likely to have impaired genital development than boys from the least exposed mothers.
Studies involving bisphenol-A are showing similar findings. A review published in 2004 found that, of 152 studies looking for some harm as a result of low-dose exposure to bisphenol-A, 129 found some adverse effect. Only 33 found none, including all 12 industry-funded studies.
Some phthalates are banned or restricted by the European Union and at least 11 other nations. Several leading toy manufacturers, including Tyco, Mattel, Fisher Price and Gerber, have already begun to take the responsible path and phase out phthalates in certain toys. We applaud these steps.
When you hear from industry experts, I hope that you will ask them directly if phthalates and bisphenol-A are safe. What you will hear will likely include: “Most likely,” “I believe so,” “We have no reason to believe otherwise,” “The evidence seems to indicate that,” etc. etc. You will not hear from their mouths these words: “These chemicals are completely safe.” You will not hear that today, and shouldn’t hear that because evidence shows otherwise. But we need to know that something is completely safe when it comes to the health and well-being of our children. You will not hear that these chemicals are completely safe and that should cause you great concern.
We urge you to err on the side of caution and vote in favor of HB 833.
