CA: Legislature considers bill to ban chemical from kids' products

[Kadie]

CALIFORNIA
Legislature considers bill to ban chemical from kids' products
Bisphenol A found in pacifiers, toys and baby bottles
Jane Kay, Chronicle Environment Writer

Thursday, March 31, 2005

An obscure chemical in hard plastic baby bottles, liners inside canned food and some water containers lies at the center of controversy as the California Legislature considers a bill to ban it in children's products.

If passed, California would be the first state to limit its use.

Bisphenol A -- the prime chemical in making the polycarbonate plastic popular in durable, clear Nalgene water bottles -- has come under increasing scrutiny in recent years from scientists who caution that it's found in thousands of consumer products and has invaded the human body.

Industry representatives say the chemical in the products remains at insignificant concentrations, and they maintain that nationwide tests compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that the bisphenol A levels in people aren't worrisome. The Food and Drug Administration permits its use.

more...
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/03/31/BAGIOC13FM1.DTL