Said Environmental Working Group, the non-profit research institute that’s been advocating BPA-free products, “The action represents a critical breakthrough in protecting infants from the hazards of the synthetic estrogen and plastics component, which leaches easily into formula and food from BPA-laden food packaging.

“The industry agreement effectively recognizes that BPA is too dangerous for infants.”

At least as far as baby bottles are concerned. Says EWG, “there is much more to be done.  Other states and the federal government must take additional steps to see that this toxic hormone disruptor is removed not only from plastic baby bottles, but from the linings of cans for infant formula and other foods and from other sources of exposure such as sippy cups and bottled water bottles.”

“Today’s deal underscores the need for the Congress and the Obama administration to overhaul federal chemicals policy to protect infants and children from exposures to toxic chemicals,” said Environmental Working Group (EWG) Executive Director Richard Wiles.

“When the public is forced to rely on state actions to achieve nationwide protections, we know the federal system is broken,” Wiles said.

In their news release, EWG reports that U.S. Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) will soon re-introduce The Kid-Safe Chemicals Act in the Senate, with companion legislation to be offered in the House, according to California Congressman Henry Waxman (D).  The legislation proposes a major overhaul of federal toxics chemical law, requiring that manufacturers demonstrate that chemicals are safe for infants and children before they enter the market.

The Toxin-Free Toddlers and Babies Act sets an upper limit of 0.1 parts per billion (ppb) of BPA in bottles and cups. The measure also proposes to bar can linings and jars found to leach 0.1 ppb or more of BPA into any liquid, food or beverage designed for children 3 and under.

RELATED:

Check out these tips for keeping your kids’ toys safe from WhattoExpect.com.

The post BPA Banned from Baby Bottles; What About Other Chemicals and Other Products? appeared first on Big Green Purse.

BPA, an artificial sex hormone, has produced irreversible damage in test animals. It has been under fire from environmentalists, scientists, and, increasingly, concerned moms.

FDA, the federal agency charged with regulating food safety, has argued that BPA can continue to be used in consumer products. The agency cites 2 studies indicating that the chemical is safe, despite the fact that both studies were funded by the chemical industry.

Environmental Working Group, the consumer watchdog research institute, says, “The FDA has refused to take into serious consideration more than 100 independent animal studies suggesting the toxic chemical could be linked to serious disorders in humans, including prostate cancer, breast cancer, diabetes, early puberty, obesity and learning and behavioral problems.”

University of Missouri research scientist Frederick Vom Saal today released one of the most comprehensive studies ever published on BPA. The study links heart disease and diabetes to continual, low-dose exposure to BPA — exactly the kind of exposure you would get from drinking canned sodas regularly or drinking regularly from plastic bottles.

In an article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, scientists report a strong correlation between levels of BPA in American adults and these diseases, both of which are increasing.

“These startling results only increase the urgency of removing BPA from products used by young children,” said EWG senior scientist Anila Jacob M.D. M.P.H. “If the adult population in the U.S. is seeing links between this toxic chemical and heart disease and diabetes, imagine what impact much higher exposure levels are having on babies whose bodies are just developing.”

The National Toxicology Program, an arm of the National Institutes of Health, has asserted that it has “some concern” for BPA¹s negative impact on “development of the prostate gland and brain and for behavioral effects in fetuses, infants and children.”

“If this weren¹t so serious, it would be laughable,” said EWG VP for Research, Jane Houlihan. “Here we have an agency that time and again makes the wrong call on everything from pharmaceuticals, tomatoes and toothpaste, and we¹re supposed to take them at their word over a toxic sex hormone found in baby products.”

Until state or federal laws pass outlawing BPA in consumer products, you can protect yourself by:

* minimizing your consumption of canned food and canned beverages, as BPA may be used to line the cans; choose fresh or frozen food and bottled juices instead

* buy only water bottles or baby bottles that explicitly say they are BPA-Free

* use glass baby bottles and reusable water bottles made from stainless steel or aluminum

* avoid plastic food and beverage containers that are made with #7 plastic; you should see the number in a triangle on the bottom of the bottle.

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