Bill Banning BPA In Baby Bottles and Sippy Cups Passes House

Doctors, nurses, parents, and children’s health advocates cheered today’s passage of the Safe Baby Bottle Act (HB 1180) by the Washington State House of Representatives. The bill passed with bipartisan support on a vote of 76-21.

Prime sponsor of the legislation, Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson (D-36) said, “We need to protect babies and children against BPA. The danger is here now and we must address it. A baby’s first drink from a bottle shouldn’t be contaminated with harmful chemicals.”

“BPA has no business in bottles or any other product children put in their mouths, said Ivy Sager-Rosenthal, campaign director for the Washington Toxics Coalition.  “Passage of this bill sends a message to the chemical industry that harmful chemicals are not welcome on store shelves or in babies’ mouths in Washington.

The Safe Baby Bottle Act will eliminate the hormone disrupting chemical bisphenol A (BPA) from baby bottles, sippy cups, other children’s food containers, and sports water bottles. If the legislation becomes law, Washington State would become the first state in the nation to place restrictions on BPA in children’s products. BPA is used in polycarbonate plastic baby bottles, sippy cups, and other containers.

Health professionals applauded the House’s action today.  They are concerned because children are especially vulnerable to exposures from toxic chemicals.  Even low levels of bisphenol A are linked to harm to reproductive development, cancer, and obesity. A recent study by the Centers for Disease Control found BPA present in 93% of people tested, with children having the highest levels.

Karen Bowman with the Washington State Nurses Association said, “The Safe Baby Bottle Act is common sense legislation to protect children’s health.  This is a great step forward.”

Major baby bottle manufacturers, including Avent, and Playtex, have started phasing out the use of BPA in their products. Nalgene and Camelbak, makers of sports water bottles, have already made the switch to BPA-free materials.

The legislation passed days after Suffolk County, New York passed a ban on BPA similar to the one proposed in Washington State. The legislation now moves to the Senate. If the legislation becomes law, Washington State’s ban would be the first state restrictions on BPA in children’s products. Several other states have pending BPA legislation this year, including Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Minnesota, Oregon, Texas, and Vermont.

BPA is a synthetic sex hormone that research links to health effects, including cancer, miscarriage, obesity, reproductive problems, and hyperactivity. In addition, recent scientific studies show infants are more susceptible to BPA because it stays longer in their bodies than adults. Research also shows exposure to BPA puts girls at an increased risk of breast cancer.

More than 30 health, environmental, consumer, and children’s advocates have endorsed the bill, including the Washington Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility, the Washington State Nurses Association, Washington Conservation Voters, Children’s Alliance, People For Puget Sound, and WashPIRG.