Kerry pushes for ban of potentially toxic baby bottles
By Beth Daley, Globe Staff
After weeks of growing health concerns over a common chemical found in baby bottles, Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry and five other U.S. senators filed legislation today to ban the compound from all children’s products.
The chemical, bisphenol A, is used to make transparent plastics used in shatter-proof sipping cups, baby bottles and a host of other consumer products from hiking water bottles to sunglasses. The legislation also requires that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conduct a comprehensive study of the health effects of bisphenol A in children and adults.
 (FDA) |
Two weeks ago, the US National Toxicological Program, part of the Department of Health and Human Services, released a draft report on the chemical saying there were some concern for health problems in fetuses, infants and children at current human exposures. Canada then announced it was planning on banning baby bottles made with the synthetic compound. Stores from Wal-Mart to CVS pledged to pull baby bottles made with the chemical from shelves. Nalgene, the maker of the durable and ubiquitous hiking bottle whose parent company, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., is based in Waltham, also said it would replace its bisphenol A bottles in stores.
“As the evidence mounts about BPA’s health risks, the first thing we should do is take this chemical out of children’s products,’’ said Kerry. “Parents should be able to give their kids a drink without wondering whether the baby bottle or sippee cup will make their child sick.”
Animal studies have linked exposure to small amounts of the odorless, tasteless chemical to reproductive problems and possible cancers later in life, though the true level of risk is unknown. A small body of research suggests that exposure to the chemical in the uterus could contribute to later obesity.
Bisphenol A is one of the most commonly used synthetic compounds. It is used to line most canned goods, from soups to soft drinks, to prevent corrosion. It helps make sunglasses and compact discs durable. And, of course, it is used in baby bottles.
A recent study by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that about 93 percent of the US population had bisphenol A in their body. Infants and young children had higher levels than adults. Scientists are most concerned about early development because it is a critical time in determining long-term health. Both the US Toxicology Program and Canadian reviews said there appeared to be a negligible effect from bisphenol A on adults.
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), along with Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) are part of the proposed ban.
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John Kerry is a laughingstock. Classic Massachusetts pol, just horrendous. Quick, - name a Kerry legislation that mattered. I could give you an hour to think and you'd have nothing. He is so unable to communicate clearly and so out of touch with reality he likely thinks he's a savior of babies now. Bloated Teddie, freak show Kerry, cuddly Deval, what is wrong with Mass? You not only know how to pick'm you keep them around forever to boot. Where's Bill Weld when you need him?
To CK: You obviously don't have children.
CK you're right! Kerry is a clown! How about eliminating the excise tax? That would help all of us out. Leave it up to parents to decide what bottle they want to use for their kids. Kerry continually shows how little he matters and how out of touch he is with the people he represents. I can't for the life of me figure out why people continue to vote for this lunatic.
Id like to push him off his windsail. I didnt know information gets processed in the large hollow vessel of his. He supports abortion and this legislation. Huh.
what bottle brands are at risk? Dr. Browns?
What is wrong with you people? Children and adults are getting sick, and autism is at an historic high- with some scientists linking it to plastics! You must not have children, and if you do I feel sorry for them for having such a selfish parent who thinks that this is a joke. Grow up and realize that it's not the past that matters in this world anymore- it's everyone banding together to fix the future for our children.
Yes. Dr. Brown's are bad except if you have the glass ones. Most of the clear plastic ones are bad. Here is best link I've found to show the good vs. bad. http://zrecs.blogspot.com/2007/11/z-report-bisphenol-in-baby-bottles-and.html
motheroftwo, you can check out safe mama for more information about that:
http://safemama.com/2007/11/22/bpa-free-bottle-and-sippy-cup-cheat-sheet/
Wow, you people are really right-wing maniacs. Even when it comes to legislation that will protect infants, you can't be unbiased. Did it occur to any of you that maybe companies should not be allowed to manufacture something that could potentially cause cancer, especially aimed at young children? This is not an issue of parental control like whether or not to let a child watch an R rated movie, this is matter of life and death (potentially). If an ignorant parent continues to use these bottles, why should an innocent child suffer the consequeces of his/her parent's decision? Maybe Kerry is thinking of the infants who are at risk here. Are you literally that stupid that you don't understand that concept? Wow. Look at the state of this country right now and pat yourselves on the back for voting into office your warhawk president, you selfish, republican creeps.
I don't really get CK and KRS1...just because you don't like Kerry doesn't mean that this is not an important legislation. Does that mean that the co-sponsors, Schumer, Feinstein, Clinton, Durbin and Menendez, all top Democrats in the Senate are also laughing stocks. It is pretty clear that both of you are Republicans but please don't diss things that are important to all Americans whether they are Republicans and Democrats.
Do babies getting poisoned from something as basic as a feeding bottle or cup not important? Are checks on large companies making these products not important? Are holding people accountable for the manufacture of such products not important?
Also, eliminating the excise tax? You must be nuts! Have you ever thought of what the excise tax is for? As if our roads, bridges and driving facilities are not poor to begin with, eliminating the Excise Tax is hardly going to help any of that.
I agree, it's probably better to be safe than sorry considering many of the scientific studies. I don't think it's an unreasonable concern. I agree with Kerry.
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