Oakland, Ca – The health of California’s children was the watchword today in Sacramento as the State Assembly voted 43-31 to ban the hormone-disrupting chemical bisphenol A (BPA) from food and beverage containers designed for children 3 and younger.
The “Toxics-Free Babies and Toddlers Act”(SB 797), authored by State Senator Fran Pavley (D-Santa Monica), now goes to the upper chamber, which earlier approved it by a vote of 21-16. After a final procedural vote, the measure heads to the desk of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for a signature or veto.
Pavley introduced the legislation in response to mounting scientific evidence that exposure to even very low levels of BPA is a danger to health. More than 200 scientific studies show that BPA exposure, particularly during early infancy, is associated with a wide range of disorders, including breast and prostate cancer, birth defects, infertility, early puberty in girls, diabetes and obesity.
Federal investigators have found traces of the chemical in 93 percent of Americans tested, due mostly to BPA leached from plastic food and beverage containers and epoxy can linings.
“The chemical industry may have had the money, but science and the public’s concern for children’s health came out on top today,” said Renee Sharp, director of EWG’s California office. “California parents are closer than ever to that day when they won’t have to worry if their babies and toddlers are ingesting BPA.”
"I applaud those in the Assembly who had the courage to stand up for babies and against the chemical industry lobbyists,” said actress Fran Drescher, a cancer survivor and public health advocate “This is how government is supposed to work. A chemical associated with so many serious health problems, including cancer, should never come in contact with a child during the most critical period of development.” Ms. Drescher is the founder of the Cancer Schmancer Movement, dedicated to saving women's lives through early detection of cancer.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG), The Breast Cancer Fund and Physicians For Social Responsibility/Los Angeles are sponsors of the Pavley legislation and have worked together to build support for the measure in Sacramento.
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EWG is a nonprofit research organization based in Washington, DC that uses the power of information to protect human health and the environment. https://www.ewg.org
