BPA ban passes in California Assembly

This is a historic landmark for opponents of BPA however it still needs to pass the senate and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Good luck guys!

BPA is an acronym for Bisphenol A. It is an organic compound with two phenol functional groups and is used in making plastics for food and beverage containers. It is currently found in baby bottles, pacifiers, tin can linings, water bottles etc. It is very useful to the packaging industry but there is growing concern about the safety of this chemical. It is a known endocrine disruptor and mimics estrogen. This is especially harmful for young children and they have the highest amount of exposure.

Steps you can use to minimize exposure to this chemical until our planet bans the use of it:

1. Choose glass or BPA-free plastic baby bottles.
2. Use glass, porcelain or stainless steel containers for hot foods and liquids.
3. Avoid plastic containers with the No. 7 recycling label — they're made with BPA.
4. Don't microwave polycarbonate plastic food containers. Instead, use glass containers designed for microwaving.
5. Reduce your use of canned foods — many cans are lined with a BPA-containing resin.

An excerpt from The Mercury News:

For years, the FDA held that exposures to the substance by adults and children were well below toxic levels. But in January, the agency said it has "some concern about the potential effects of BPA on the brain, behavior, and prostate gland in fetuses, infants, and young children," which are at particular risk because they're rapidly developing.
After a review of more recent studies, the National Institutes of Health expressed concern that BPA exposure in infants may lead to problems with brain development and behavior, early puberty, breast cancer and prostate cancer. Other research suggests BPA can interfere with metabolism, increasing the risk of obesity, heart disease and diabetes.

Almost all Americans have detectable levels of BPA. In 2004, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found it in 93 percent of 2,500 subjects, with children showing the highest levels. In 1996, the FDA wrote that adults on average consume 11 micrograms of BPA daily, while infants consume 7 micrograms per day.

Meanwhile, think about how you can make small changes everyday to lessen your family's exposure. If you are already organically minded, it should be a piece of organic cake on a glass plate.

Naturally yours,

Tina