Ban bisphenol-A (BPA) from all food and beverage containers

Most people are exposed to bisphenol-A (BPA) every day. In fact, CDC researchers have found BPA in 95% of the biological specimens they tested. Although the presence of bisphenol-A in commonly used goods is shockingly prevalent, the average consumer is unaware of what products to avoid.

Bisphenol-A, the chemical building block for polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins, is used to harden plastics and is associated with a broad spectrum of adverse health effects. More than one hundred scientific studies suggest that BPA exposure at very low doses is linked to a staggering number of health problems, including breast and prostate cancer, brain damage, altered immune system, lowered sperm counts, and early puberty. Even minuscule amounts - parts per billion or parts per trillion - have been shown to disrupt normal prenatal development.

A September, 2008 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association linked bisphenol A to heart disease, diabetes, and liver abnormalities in adults. And in early October, a University of Cincinnati study found that BPA interferes with chemotherapy used to treat breast cancer.

Other nations are already moving away from their use of BPA. In October, Canada added BPA to its list of toxic substances, announced it will ban the sale of baby bottles made with BPA and is looking at restricting its use in infant formula cans. Over a decade ago, Japanese manufacturers voluntarily undertook measures to reduce BPA leaching into canned food and beverages. U.S. manufacturers are also responding to growing consumer concerns: Nalgene and Playtex are phasing out BPA in their products, Walmart and Toys-R-Us have stated they will no longer sell products containing BPA; and Safeway and Whole foods recently announced they too would no longer be stocking baby bottles manufactured with BPA.

Despite this overwhelming - and growing - body of evidence demonstrating the adverse health effects associated with BPA exposure, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to rely upon two industry-funded studies to support its claim that BPA is safe.

In order to protect the public's health, BPA should be banned from all food and beverage containers. Environmental Commons supports the Ban Poisonous Substances Act (HR 6228), recently introduced by Representative Ed Markey.

"Representative Markey's legislation is an essential step to improving the health of all U.S. citizens," said Jeanne Rizzo, R.N., executive director of the Breast Cancer Fund. "The presence of bisphenol-A in commonly used goods is shockingly prevalent, and the average consumer is unaware of what products to avoid. Americans expect and believe that their government is safeguarding their health, and this legislation is an important step in that direction."