March 16, 2009 | NEWS ARTICLES
Ban urged on possible toxin; Schumer, Lowey call for removal of BPA in toys, cups, bottles
By Robert Marchant | The Journal News
OSSINING - U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., called for a ban on a potentially toxic form of plastics used in infant and children's products yesterday.
Using the Ossining Children's Center as a backdrop, the senator and Rep. Nita Lowey, D-Harrison, outlined their case for eliminating bisphenol-A from baby bottles, cups and toys. The legislators are pushing the proposed laws in Washington, D.C., following the recent release of a draft study by federal researchers suggesting bisphenol-A, or BPA, may interfere with hormones and other biological functions. Another impetus was a Canadian ban on its use in infant products in April.
The legislation also would require more study on the potential health effects from long-term exposure to the chemical compound used to make plastic clear and shatter-proof.
"It could cause real problems to our children," Schumer said. "The crazy thing is that people have waited and waited and waited to do something about this. ... Once Canada did it, we said it was time for us to do it, too."
Schumer cited the endorsement of his legislation by Consumers Union and the voluntary removal of children's products containing the substance by major retailers as signs that support for the measure was strong. The senator said the legislation had bipartisan support from both houses in Congress.
But the chemical industry maintains that a ban is unwarranted. According to a statement from the American Chemistry Council, "The weight of scientific evidence clearly supports the safety of BPA and provides strong reassurance that there is no basis for human health concerns from exposure to low doses of BPA."
The chemical component is widely used in a range of consumer, household and medical products. According to government researchers, more than 90 percent of Americans are exposed to trace amounts of bisphenol.
Lowey said it was time for a deeper, more concerted look at the use of chemical compounds in daily life.
"This is one substance, but we have to look at everything," she said. "They have to do the research on all these substances."
Schumer and Lowey chided the Bush administration for what they said was a deliberate policy to cut back on regulatory action.
"For the last seven years, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has been instructed, 'Be pro-business, no matter what,'" Schumer said.
A report by the National Toxicology Program, released last month based on limited evidence involving laboratory rats, stated "the possibility that bisphenol-A may alter human development cannot be dismissed."
The debate over plastics has stirred concern among parents.
Regina Moriarty, an Ossining mother of four who has a 9-month old, said she planned to do more research on the topic.
"Anything that has dangerous implications for kids, that is very much a concern," said Moriarty, who does volunteer work in the community.
