Washington lawmakers this week passed a ban on bisphenol A, or BPA, in baby bottles, sippy cups, food and beverage containers for children 3 and under, and sports bottles.
The state becomes the second in the US to ban BPA from sports bottles, according to the Washington Toxics Coalition. It’s the fifth state to ban the ubiquitous chemical from baby bottles and food containers. BPA, a synthetic estrogen, can leach out of hard, clear plastics. It poses particular risk to the fetus, babies, and young children, targeting behavior, the brain, and the prostate gland.
An effort to ban BPA in kid’s food products failed in Oregon‘s recent legislative session. Canada last year decided to ban BPA in baby bottles. The government is considering further ways to limit its use.
Gov. Chris Gregoire is expected to sign the legislation.
Parents who want to limit their kid’s exposure to BPA should check out this tip sheet from Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units, a reputable organization of pediatricians and environmental health specialists.
Sippy cup photo courtesy of Flickr user sean dreilinger under a Creative Commons license.
