Tag: bisphenol a

Michigan to Ban BPA?

  • Bisphenol-A lines the inside of most metal food and drink cans. (Photo courtesy of Sun Ladder at Wikimedia Commons)

Bisphenol-A or BPA – is a chemical that has been used for more than 40 years in food and beverage packaging. It can leach out of those packages and get into food and drinks. More than a hundred peer-reviewed studies have linked bisphenol-A to health problems. Until recently the Food and Drug Administration said that our current low levels of exposure to BPA were safe. But new studies have shown subtle effects of low doses of BPA in lab animals. Based on those studies, the FDA now says it has some concern about the potential effects of BPA on the brain, behavior, and prostate gland in fetuses, infants, and young children.
The six major baby bottle manufacturers have voluntarily removed BPA. But BPA is still used in the linings of almost every kind of food and beverage can…including canned liquid baby formula.


Nine states have passed laws to ban certain uses of BPA in children’s products… and Michigan could be next.


Democratic State Representative Mark Meadows from East Lansing has introduced a bill to ban BPA in children’s products, and he joins me now. Representative Meadows, why do you feel this is necessary?

Advice for parents from the Department of Health and Human Services

Related article from USA Today

Transcript

Meadows: Well, I think the scientific research has shown us there is a danger particularly to children and infants with regard to BPA leaching into their systems and the result of that has been like a crescendo of scientific evidence that indicates it should be banned at least in those products.


What specific products are you targeting?


Meadows: We’re targeting anything that comes in contact with children and particularly those things which contain food items so that we would be assured that at least in younger people they wouldn’t be exposed to BPA. And I think there’s been a recognition in the industry that this is coming, although the major opponents to this legislation continue to be the chemical manufacturing concerns in the United States.


Have you had any reactions from those manufacturers?


Meadows: Yes, you know, Dow Chemical of course is a big employer in the state of Michigan and they’ve been adamantly opposed to this legislation. I think though that we made some changes to the legislation to try to address some of the issues they raised with regard to it.


What changes did you make?


Meadows: We made a few changes to limit the language. One of the exclusions is bike helmets, which we need the rigidity that’s produced by BPA in those things which provide a great protection to young people.


We’ve seen laws passed in Minnesota, Wisconsin, New York and six other states that ban certain uses of BPA in kids’ products. What have those laws accomplished so far?


Meadows: Well they have reduced the use of BPA products with regard to children in all of those states.


How quickly would companies have to come up with alternatives under your bill?


Meadows: I can’t remember the exact phase-in period, but they would have time to come up with alternatives. But in fact the testimony we received indicated that in fact those alternatives are available now.


So your bill has passed the House Great Lakes and Environment Committee. How much support do you believe you have to bring the bill up for a vote in the House?


Meadows: You know, we would bring the bill up for a vote in the House and I think it would pass handily in fact. But because of the nature of the lame duck session we’re in right now, I do not expect it to come up for a vote this year. I think it’ll be reintroduced in January and hopefully we’ll move it through committee again next year and get a vote on the floor for it.


Mark Meadows is a Democratic State Representative from East Lansing. He has introduced a bill to ban certain uses of the chemical bisphenol-A in children’s products. Thank you so much for your time.


Meadows: No problem.


That’s the Environment Report. I’m Rebecca Williams.

Plastics Chemical Causes Defects

A new study finds low doses of a chemical used in plastics increases developmental
defects in mice. Rebecca Williams reports the study adds to the growing body of
research that has some scientists wondering if there are human health effects:

Transcript

A new study finds low doses of a chemical used in plastics increases developmental
defects in mice. Rebecca Williams reports the study adds to the growing body of
research that has some scientists wondering if there are human health effects:


The chemical’s called bisphenol A. It’s used to make everything from plastic baby bottles
to the lining of food cans.


The researchers exposed pregnant mice to the chemical. They found that the female
babies those mice were carrying were more likely to have eggs with chromosome defects.
So it’s a three-generational effect. Exposure in the pregnant female mouse increases the
likelihood her grandchildren will have defects.


Patricia Hunt is an author of the study, published in the Public Library of Science
Genetics. She notes this is an animal study and humans are more complex:


“But we also need to bear in mind that this is one chemical of many that have these
effects, they can mimic the actions of hormones in the body.”


Hunt says there’s a growing level of concern among scientists that the developing fetus
might be especially sensitive to chemicals that mimic hormones.


For the Environment Report, I’m Rebecca Williams.

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New Culprit for Rising Breast Cancer Rates?

A new study suggests exposure in the womb to chemicals that mimic estrogen could increase the risk of developing breast cancer as an adult. Rebecca Williams reports the study looked specifically at a chemical that’s found in many food containers and plastic bottles:

Transcript

A new study suggests exposure in the womb to chemicals that mimic estrogen could increase the risk of developing breast cancer as an adult. Rebecca Williams reports the study looked specifically at a chemical that’s found in many food containers and plastic bottles:


Bisphenol A has been shown to leach out of food and beverage containers. Scientists are concerned about human exposure to the chemical because it mimics the hormone estrogen.


The new study provides evidence that exposure to estrogen mimics as a fetus increases the risk of developing breast cancer as an adult.


The findings were based on animal studies in rats.


Dr. Ana Soto is an author of the study in the journal Reproductive Toxicology.


“We used to think that the womb was a pristine environment. And we know now that it is not a pristine environment anymore. And I think we should be terribly concerned about that.”


Soto says the rates of breast cancer in the US and Europe have increased over the past 50 years. She says fetal exposure to estrogen mimics could be the underlying cause of that increase.


For the Environment Report, I’m Rebecca Williams.

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Study Links Plastic Ingredient to Prostate Cancer

New research shows that animals exposed to a chemical found in plastics are more likely to develop prostate cancer later in life. Scientists say their research is the first to find such a link.
The GLRC’s Mark Brush has more:

Transcript

New research shows that animals exposed to a chemical found in plastics are more likely
to develop prostate cancer later in life. Scientists say their research is the first to find
such a link. The GLRC’s Mark Brush has more:


The chemical is known as bisphenol A. And it’s used to make the hard plastic found in
everything from microwave cookware to baby bottles to CDs – just to name a few. The
researchers say that rats exposed to this chemical in their mother’s womb are more likely
to develop prostate cancer as adults. They say the rats were exposed to low doses of the
chemical, similar to the levels found in humans.


Gail Prins headed up the study published in the journal Cancer Research.


“I want to take a lot of caution. I’m not saying that I have evidence that this is causing
human cancers, I’m just saying it’s part of the body of evidence that these type of
chemicals and exposures may be a contributing factor.”


Prins says it’s difficult for people to avoid these chemicals because they’re in products
we use everyday. But she says plastic containers tend to release more chemicals when
they are heated.

For the GLRC, I’m Mark Brush.

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