A bill has recently been introduced that would halt the production of plastics which include a chemical that is used in the production of various items for children and adults alike. The ban, which is being lead by the Senate Democrats, is a controversial one.
According the the Democrats involved, the warning signs pointing to the negative effects of this chemical are clear and just sitting back without making a move to remove this chemical from plastic production is doing more harm than good.
The chemical, known as Bisphenol-A (BPA), has been the topic of several scientific studies which the results have thus far conflicted with one another. According to the proposed ban, the Democrats are asking the CDC (Center for Disease Control) to view the results as a whole in making a decision as to whether the chemical poses a risk to those who interact with the plastics created with BPA.
This has been the first month that the National Toxicology Program (NTP) has noted the possible side effects of BPA as being “high risk”. The side effects noted in laboratory animals included prostate cancers, breast cancers,
Diabetes, increased behavioral problems,
Hyperactivity, and problems in reproduction. The NTP has been the first of the federal agencies to raise the caution flag for the use of BPA, stating a possible negative effect on fetuses, infants and children.
The NTP is in the minority. The Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency have all stated BPA is safe for consumer use.
While one federally funded study estimates more than 90% of the population excretes BPA in their urine, the producers and regulators of plastics for children and infants including baby bottles, rattles, compact discs, teething rings and pacifiers, just to name a few, claim the substance is not harmful to the human body.
