Chicago Takes A Stand: City Council Committee Unanimously Votes in Support of the BPA-Free Kids Ordinance

GUEST BLOGGER Sarah Blenner

Bisphenol A (BPA), the controversial, toxic chemical found in many plastic food containers, is once again making headlines.  BPA is an estrogen-mimicking chemical that is used to make polycarbonate plastics.  Hundreds of studies have linked BPA to a variety of adverse health conditions, such as diabetes, insulin dependency, obesity, breast cancer, prostate cancer, hyperactivity, ADHD, autism, early onset of puberty, cardiovascular disease and liver enzyme abnormalities.

In January, Julie Burger argued that "the time to act is now."  Leading scientists state that the potential health risks of BPA are too significant and the FDA's determination that BPA is "safe" is simply the chemical industry's creation of "manufactured doubt."  With hundreds of studies linking BPA to adverse health conditions, the FDA relied solely on a limited number of studies funded by the chemical industry that showed "no harm."

BPA can be found in baby bottles and sippy cups and poses a threat to the children who drink or eat from these types of containers.  Children, especially those under the age of three, are at the highest risk for exposure because these young children lack the liver enzymes that can render BPA non-toxic.  As a result, when BPA is ingested it goes straight to the bloodstream, accumulates, and may lead to serious health conditions.  Banning the sale of empty food and liquid containers intended for the use of children under the age of three will protect those in our community that are at the highest risk of BPA accumulation in the bloodstream, and thus we will limit the amount of toxic chemicals that we infuse into their developing bodies.

The Chicago City Council began discussing the potential health risks of BPA to children when the "BPA-Free Kids" ordinance, sponsored by Alderman Burke and Alderman Flores, was introduced to City Council last February.  At the time, the FDA issued a position statement, claiming that it planned to conduct studies in its laboratories to determine the actual health impact of BPA.  Rather than passing the ordinance, City Council subsequently passed a Resolution stating that "if the FDA does not take appropriate action by April 30, 2009, this municipal legislative body will aggressively pursue the pending ordinance sponsored by Alderman Burke and Alderman Flores."

The time has arrived.  Seeing as the FDA has not taken action, Alderman Burke and Alderman Flores reintroduced the BPA-Free Kids Ordinance at the joint committee on finance and consumer protection on May 11.  BPA-Free Kids will be voted on at the full City Council as early as Wednesday, May 13.  If passed, the legislation would ban the sale of baby bottles and sippy cups that contain BPA in the city of Chicago.

If passed, Chicago will also be a pioneer in the effort to protect children from baby bottles containing BPA.  Although introduced at the federal level and in at least a dozen states (including Illinois), there are only two jurisdictions in the U.S. that have taken action.  On Friday, May 9, Minnesota became the first state to enact legislation banning the sale of baby bottles with BPA and Suffolk County, New York, has also taken steps to ban the sale of products containing BPA.

According to Dr. Gail Prins, a physiology professor at the University of Chicago who has conducted research on BPA's adverse effects, “the body of evidence that documents harmful effects of BPA at low doses--doses very similar to what is found in humans--is very compelling when examined as a whole…To ignore scientific data any longer will be seen as negligence.”

Editor's Note: Since this blog was published, the Chicago City Council voted on and unanimously passed the municipal ban on the sale of baby bottles and cups containing BPA.  For more information please see this article published online Wednesday, May 13, 2009 by The New York Times.

Sarah Blenner is a second year law student at Chicago-Kent College of Law and a first year public health student at University of Illinois at Chicago.  She received her Bachelor of Arts with high honors from Emory University in May 2007, where she studied Jewish Studies and Anthropology.  Sarah has been a research assistant at the Institute for Science, Law and Technology since May 2008 and has also worked for the Chicago-Kent Health and Disability Law Clinic.  Her interests lie in the intersection between health, religion, and the law.

Comments

[Fundraising Software Selection]

BPA free is definitely the way to go. Maybe one day major plastic producers will throw in the towel and upgrade to the better, cleaner, healthier materials.

[social bookmarking]

This is a great site post. thanx very much for the great insight and we really appreciate the time you took to write this. thank again.very nice article..

[Evering2010]

Thak you for sharing them with us , I think it's worth reading

[LouisVuitton]

Thank you for sharing your stuff on blog. It is doubtless that we have similar interests. Something are very helpful to me.

[Justin Bieber Shoes]

Thanks,for this beautiful post and it's fascinating questions!
Something about a view opens up a world of possibility. I'm sure he'll enjoy it though and hope you raise LOADSAMONEY for your charity.
I am sure that he will absolutely love it. My son has done it a couple of times.

[Projector]

sarah, I love your photo blog..

[PC review]

please visit my blog

[Info Tips]

yeah..I love this blog
absolutely I love your articles, sarah... :)

[Cameras Gadget]

I love to read your post...
thanks sarah

[Internet mix]

very nice info..
good job sarah..

[Buy Neurontin Online]

Good work! Your post is an excellent example of why I keep comming back to read your excellent quality content that is forever updated. Thank you!

[uggs.com]

Don't be mislead by what I'm about to write. There are plenty of public courses I would rather play than some country clubs. If you're from the Pennsylvania area, Glen Mills comes to mind. However, private clubs offer a few things I personally enjoy.

[Gift Ideas For Boyfriend]

Thanks for the info!

[Baby World]

You know this PBA issue has come back to haunt us again. We should really stop using plastics, it's not only destroying our environment but ourselves as well!!

[mbts shoes clearance]

This is certainly the least to say a very well written eye opening article on BPA.I cant believe that liquids could be so affected by the quality of the Material in which they are put.Could never thought that milk could be in such a potentially hazardous bottle.So much for my theoretical course in sydney regarding safety of industrial components .Ppl need more awareness and need more articles like these.

[Business Loans]

This is certainly the least to say a very well written eye opening article on BPA.I cant believe that liquids could be so affected by the quality of the Material in which they are put.Could never thought that milk could be in such a potentially hazardous bottle.So much for my theoretical course in sydney regarding safety of industrial components .Ppl need more awareness and need more articles like these.

[converse pas cher]

but entertaining to read nonetheless. Posted a link on my Facebook page, hope that's cool!

[mbt walking shoes]

This article is very interesting, I like it. I will always come to visit after.I would recommend to friends more.

[setting goals]

Thanks for this post. Not sure I totally understand it, but entertaining to read nonetheless. Posted a link on my Facebook page, hope that's cool!

[CARRIE PRATHER]

Incredibly beneficial article. I’ve discovered your web site by Google and I am genuinely happy about the information you present with your posts. Anyway keep in the great hard work!

[coursework writing service]

Yes, very interesting thoughts. Thank you very much. That's just the article struck me as boring, I hope that these will be better.

[thesis]

I get it. Great stuff and I cant wait to read more of your blogs. What youve got to say is important and needs to be read.

[Goal Setting]

Thanks for the insightful post! Look forward to reading more of this kind of thingg :)

[torrent download]

This blog is really nice. Sounds really great.

[ugg shoes]

Oh I do hope to visit some day! What a great place to work!