On February 25,
the Maryland Senate passed the BPA-Free Baby Bottle Act
46-0. Maryland will become the fourth state to ban BPA in baby bottles and sippy cups.
Similar bills are pending in nearly 20 other states.
A bill to
restrict the use of BPA in all food containers, including food cans,
has been introduced in the U.S. Congress, and is co-sponsored by
Maryland Representatives John Sarbanes and Donna Edwards.
In the meanwhile, Maryland PIRG staff is working this winter with health groups to alert state legislators to the danger another toxic chemical, Deca-BDE. We will keep pushing until Maryland protects our children's health by phasing out all toxic chemicals.
Congratulations! You spoke, the Maryland General Assembly listened. Today the Maryland Senate passed the BPA-Free Baby Bottle Act
46-0, making Maryland the fourth state to ban the chemical from baby
bottles and sippy cups.
Parents’ top concern is to ensure their children grow up in a safe, healthy environment.
Yet, untested chemicals are putting our
children’s health at serious risk. The
problem is that no law requires chemical companies to prove that their
chemicals are safe before they are added to the products that we use everyday. With time, more and more toxic chemicals are
showing up in our homes and our places of business, from the toner of the office
copier to baby bottles to the couches our children sit on.
Here in Maryland, two known toxic chemicals are still legal. Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a chemical that mimics estrogen and is commonly found in baby bottles, sippy cups, food containers, and certain food cans. Deca-BDE is a flame retardant added mainly to electronics but is also found in couches, mattresses and rugs.
Children's health is at risk. The main reason is children's organs are underdeveloped and constantly maturing, leaving them particularly susceptible to the effects of toxic chemicals.
The good news is safe substitutes exist. Furniture-maker Ikea has phased out the use of Deca-BDE. Electronics companies such as Apple, Dell, Sony and Hewlett Packard have also eliminated Deca-BDE from their products. Many baby bottle companies now sell BPA-free baby bottles. Retailers such as Wal-Mart and Toys R Us have committed to keeping children's products with BPA off store shelves.
Other states have taken steps to ban the chemicals. Minnesota and Connecticut have restricted BPA in many children's products. Vermont, Maine, Washington and Oregon have phased out deca-BDE in most consumer applications. Maryland has the opportunity this winter to stand up to the chemical industry and put children's health first.
Bisphenol A is not only found in polycarbonate plastic such as baby bottles, it's also in most food cans.
