attention those with small children: TMOE-related article (toxic plastics)

[MBS]

TMOE discusses the problems of bisphenol-a. The "human hormone" in question is estrogen.


http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/19/business/worldbusiness/19plastic.html

Canada Takes Steps to Ban Most Plastic Baby Bottles
By IAN AUSTEN

OTTAWA — The Canadian government moved Friday to ban polycarbonate infant bottles, the most popular variety on the market, after it officially declared one of their chemical ingredients toxic.

The action, by the departments of health and environment, is the first taken by any government against bisphenol-a, or BPA, a widely used chemical that mimics a human hormone. It has induced long-term changes in animals exposed to it through tests.

Also on Friday, Senator Charles E. Schumer, Democrat of New York, said he intended to introduce on Monday a bill that would ban many uses of BPA-related plastics. It would prohibit them in all children’s products, including nonfood items they may put in their mouths, as well as in any product used to contain food or beverages.

. . .

The toxic designation is to be followed by a 60-day comment period, but there is little chance of a reversal, given the lengthy government examination that preceded the move. Because of regulatory procedures, however, government officials said that a ban probably would not be fully in effect for about a year.

. . .

The health minister, Tony Clement, told reporters that after reviewing 150 research papers and conducting its own studies, his department concluded that children up to the age of 18 months were at the most risk from the chemical. Mr. Clement said that animal studies suggested “behavioral and neural symptoms later in life.”

Potentially unsafe exposure levels are far lower for children than for adults, Mr. Clement said, and he and Mr. Baird both said that adults who use plastic containers made with the chemical were not at risk.

“For the average Canadian consuming things in those products, there is no risk today,” Mr. Clement said.

He said that the government was also concerned about the use of BPA in coatings inside infant formula cans, but did not act because no practical alternative is now available. The government, he said, will work with formula and packaging industries on that issue.

The government has begun monitoring the exposure of 5,000 people to the chemical. If that study, to be completed in 2009, indicates a danger to adults, the toxic designation will allow the government to take additional action swiftly, according to government officials who, following official practice, spoke on the condition they not be identified.

The government said that its review found that even low levels of the chemical can harm fish and other aquatic life over time, and that low levels are present in waste water.

Canada’s move drew praise from environmentalists. “I have nothing but congratulations for the government today,” said Rick Smith, the executive director of Environmental Defence, who has long criticized the use of BPA. “This sends a clear message to the plastics industry that it needs to start reformulating its products.”

But in Washington, Steven G. Hentges, the head of the American Chemical Council’s polycarbonate group, told reporters in a teleconference: “We do not think that bans on bisphenol-a are based on science.”

. . .
Most of Canada’s major retailers, including the Canadian units of Wal-Mart and Sears, have rushed to remove food-related BPA products from their stores. . .

Senator Schumer said in an interview that he was prompted to act by the Canadian announcement and a report from the United States Department of Health and Human Services this week, which endorsed a scientific panel’s finding that there was “some concern” about the health effects of the chemical.

. . . .

[ginnyinWI]

1. I'm on it--

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel ran a series on this stuff last fall. Baby toys and bottles are especially bad. I've been campaigning for my kids to stop using the rigid plastic water bottles by calling them "cancer plastic" and it's worked. I actually did too good a job, so that they don't want to use any plastic at all--and had to backtrack a bit and tell them which ones are okay. We're all making sure our grandson gets only safe things to play with.

Kitchen: I try to use glass leftover containers mostly, but if I use plastic, I never heat things up in them and use them more for dry things like nuts. Even the safe plastics are dangerous to heat food in the microwave with. Some of these rigid plastics you almost have to use--like a food processor's container or a waterpik water reservoir. But you can avoid heating it. And I got rid of my clear plastic outdoor glasses. Got some flexible plastic ones that work just fine.

[beachmom]

2. Another reason why mothers should consider nursing, if possible.

I nursed both my children for a year, and only occasionally used bottles with pumped milk in it. Notice that it says infant formula in cans also contains the chemicals, but there is no alternative to that chemical at this time. But what of the mothers whose children are already older, now faced with the fact that their babies were exposed daily to toxins? What of American mothers right now, who are using those bottles, and don't know about the toxic chemical risk? Where was our government in protecting the tiniest members of society?