BPA takes another hit

The past few months have not been kind to the toxic plastic component bisphenol A (BPA).  The first big blow was in April when the Canadian Health Minister declared BPA a toxic substance. Next came news that Walmart, Toys R’ Us, Sears, and other retailers will remove BPA-containing baby bottles from their store shelves ASAP. In September the National Toxicology Program of NIH determined that BPA may pose risks to human development, raising concerns for early puberty, prostate effects, breast cancer, and behavioral impacts from early-life exposures.

And while the gender bending properties of BPA have been known for some time, recent scientific studies have linked BPA exposure with alterations to brain function and mood, increased likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes, and breast cancer cells resistant to chemotherapy treatment.

In what is hopefully the final blow, Wednesday brought sharp criticism of the Food and Drug Administrations September preliminary finding that BPA was “safe” from their own scientific advisory panel.  According to the panel, the Food and Drug Administration ignored valuable studies when it concluded that bisphenol A is a safe chemical.

The panel called the FDA's conclusions inadequate and recommended that the agency abandon its earlier findings about the safety of the controversial chemical. The new panel report states that the FDA's safe level for bisphenol A for people was too high, and suggested the agency reduce it by a factor of at least 10.

It will take several years and continued pressure from vocal groups, but it sounds like BPA may be on its last leg. Good news for all of us concerned about our children’s health. 

Unfortunately, the scary thing is that BPA is just the tip of the toxic chemical iceberg.  Our bodies are contaminated with a toxic soup of chemicals found in everyday consumer products, including plastic bottles, toys, personal care products, furniture, carpeting, and cookware. We are exposed to these chemicals when using and disposing of these products, ingesting household dust, breathing indoor air pollution, eating contaminated foods, and drinking contaminated water. 

And the vast majority of these chemicals have undergone minimal to no testing to determine their impacts on our health.   

That is not okay and something needs to change.  That’s why here at OEC we are taking the first step toward changing the way chemicals are dealt with in our state by supporting The Children’s Safe Products Act of 2009 to protect children from toxic chemicals in toys and other products.  Now is the time to make a major investment in creating healthier environments for our kids right here in Oregon.