SB 1032: BPA legislative fact sheet

Scientific studies show that the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) is harmful to children’s health. Yet BPA  is used to make bottles and other containers that can leach the chemical into food or  drink. It is possible and cost effective to make BPA-free alternatives. We need to protect our children from exposure risk by eliminating  BPA from baby bottles and food containers.

What Is Bisphenol A (BPA)? 

BPA was developed as a synthetic sex hormone in the 1930s but is now used to make clear, rigid plastic and other products. BPA is near the top of the list of chemicals produced in high volume world wide. People are exposed to BPA when the chemical leaches into food and drink from water bottles, baby bottles, reusable food containers and the lining of food cans.

BPA Harms Children’s Health

BPA is a hormone-disrupting chemical.  Scientific studies have linked low exposures of BPA to cancer, obesity, reproductive problems, heart disease, diabetes, liver abnormalities, and even attention deficit disorder.  Among recent findings:

• Premature babies are exposed to levels of BPA ten times greater than the general population.
• BPA circulating in the bloodstream of babies is at levels more than 11 times higher than in adults.
• BPA exposure is linked to heart disease,  diabetes and liver abnormalities in humans.
• In a study of primates, BPA is shown to harm the brain.

Most Americans are exposed to BPA at levels similar to those measured in these studies, with highest levels of exposure in children. The Centers for Disease Control found BPA exposure  in 93% of Americans age 6 and up during a test in 2007.  

Who Controls Toxics in Children’s Products?

Even today, children’s products containing toxic chemicals still make it to store shelves and into our homes. There is little government oversight of toxic chemicals  in children’s products, and federal regulators are slow to act on emerging scientific evidence showing reasons for concern.

There Is a Better Way

Bottles and other food containers can be made without BPA.  Nalgene, Playtex, and Eden foods are among the leading companies making BPA-free alternatives. Wal-Mart, Toys “R” Us and other major retailers have pledged to stop selling baby bottles and sippy cups made with BPA.  

In 2008,  the Canadian government was the first to conclude that BPA is hazardous to human health and to announce a ban on BPA in baby bottles. Connecticut, Minnesota, the City of Chicago and others have since passed legislation to eliminate BPA from children’s products.

Toxic BPA Has No Business in Baby Bottles

Oregon has established itself as a national leader in protecting children from toxic chemicals.  It is now time for Oregon take advantage of reliable scientific research to phase out one of the most dangerous chemicals in consumer products that endangers our children: BPA.

Oregon Needs State Legislation:

• Phase out BPA from all reusable food and beverage containers intended for children under 3. This includes baby bottles and sippy cups. 
• Phase out BPA from formula cans and baby food jars (single use food and beverage containers) intended for children under 3.

Reliable scientific research compiled by authoritative government agencies shows that our children’s a health is at risk from exposure to bisphenol A.  Eliminating toxic BPA from children’s food and beverage containers will help protect the health of all Oregon children now and in the future.  

Premature babies have BPA levels 10 times higher than general population. 

Exposure to Bisphenol A and other Phenols in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Premature Infants, A M Calafat, J Weuve, X Ye, L Jia, et al, Environ. Health Perspectives, Dec. 2008. Premature babies hospitalized in neonatal intensive care units had levels of BPA in their urine 10 times higher than the general population. The source of exposure most likely was plastic medical devices used in the hospital, although some could have come from infant formula. 

BPA  linked to heart disease, diabetes and liver abnormalities in humans.

Association of urinary bisphenol A concentration with medical disorders and laboratory abnormalities in adults. IA Lang, TS Galloway, A Scarlett, WE Henley, et al. JAMA. 2008, 300(11):  1303-10. This study examined associations between urinary BPA  concentrations and adult health status for 1455 adults aged 18 through 74 years.  Higher urinary BPA concentrations were associated with cardiovascular diagnoses, diabetes, and clinically abnormal concentrations of the certain liver enzymes.  The authors conclude that higher BPA exposure may be associated with avoidable morbidity in adults.

Adverse effects of BPA on brains of nonhuman primates.

Bisphenol A prevents the synaptogenic response to estradiol in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of ovariectomized nonhuman primates.   Leranth C, Hajszan T, Szigeti-Buck K, Bober J, MacLusky NJ. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008, 105(37): 14187-91. This study examined the influence of BPA administration at a daily dose equal to the current EPA reference safe daily limit. The study found that even at low exposure levels, BPA completely abolishes the synaptogenic response to estradiol. This study is the first to demonstrate an adverse effect of BPA on the brain in a nonhuman primate model.

BPA in babies 11 times higher than adults.

Predicting plasma concentrations of Bisphenol A in young children  (< two years) following typical feeding schedules using a physiologically-based toxicokinetic model. A Edginton, L Ritter. Environ. Health Perspectives in Press, Nov. 2008.  This study estimated that the amount of BPA circulating in the blood of babies is more than 11 times higher than the amount in adult blood. The disparity is likely due to natural  differences in metabolism and body size between babies and adults.

Coalition Partners:

AFSCME Local 88

AFSCME Local 3336

Children First for Oregon

Community Health Partnership

 Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs

Environment   Oregon

Family Forward

Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides

Oregon Center for Environmental Health

Oregon Environmental Council

Oregon Medical Association

Oregon Nurses  Association

OSPIRG

Oregon Toxics Alliance

Planned Parenthood

Rachel's Friends

Stand for Children