Washington on Friday became the fourth state to ban the chemical Bisphenol A (BPA) from baby bottles, sports bottles and other children’s food and drink containers.
Health and safety advocates have long questioned the safety of BPA, which has been used to make many hard plastic products and line cans for 40 years. Researchers have linked the chemical to heart disease, liver problems, diabetes and breast cancer.
For years, the Food and Drug Administration maintained that BPA was safe, relying on studies funded by chemical companies. But it reversed its position in January, voicing “some concern” about BPA’s effects on children’s brain, behavior and prostate gland. The administration is now conducting research on BPA’s risks.
The six major baby bottle manufacturers in the U.S. stopped using BPA in their bottles in 2009.
Washington’s new law makes it illegal to make or distribute children’s containers and sports bottles containing BPA in the state. The children’s container ban takes effect in July 2011. The sports bottle ban will be implemented in July 2012.
Connecticut, Minnesota and Wisconsin have similar laws, and more are in the works across the country. Earlier this month, Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick asked legislators to look into a limited ban on the products, and Maryland’s state legislature approved a ban in February.
