Democrats Weigh Ban on Plastics' Chemical in Bottles, Canned Food amid Safety Concerns

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Democrats weigh ban on plastics' chemical in bottles, canned food amid safety concerns

Some Democratic lawmakers pushed Tuesday for a ban on a chemical used in water bottles, canned food and other household items, despite mixed opinions from government experts about the substance's possible risks.

Bisphenol A has been used to package food and make shatterproof bottles for decades. But in recent years the plastic hardener has come under attack from consumer groups, who point to animal studies showing it can cause developmental problems and precancerous growths.

Rep. Edward Markey, introduced a bill Tuesday to ban the chemical in all food and drink containers. Senate lawmakers already have drafted a proposal that would go further, banning the substance from all food containers and children's products.

Government scientists from various agencies gave mixed assessments of the chemical's risks at a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing. The committee's top Democrats have been investigating the government's handling of bisphenol A and a related chemical family phthalates, which are used to soften plastic.

The levels of bisphenol "from food contact materials, including exposures for infants and children, are well below the levels that may cause health effects," said Norris Alderson, the Food and Drug Administration's associate director for science. But the agency has agreed to reevaluate the chemical's safety after an April report by government toxicology experts concluded there is "some concern" about whether bisphenol can change infant's hormone levels, brain development and lead to early puberty in girls.

In response to the report, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said it planned to stop selling baby bottles containing the chemical by early 2009.

Bisphenol leaches out of food containers, and about 93 percent of Americans have traces of it in their urine, according to studies by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 6 million pounds of bisphenol are produced in the U.S. each year by Dow Chemical, Bayer AG and other manufacturers.

The American Chemistry Council, a trade group representing chemical makers, told lawmakers that bisphenol and phthalates are "among the most well defined chemicals on earth" and do not warrant safety restrictions.

Lawmakers pointed out, however, that the European Union and California have restricted six types of phthalates from use in toys, over concerns they can cause reproductive problems in children.

Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Democratic Rep. Darlene Hooley are hoping to include similar U.S. restrictions in legislation aimed at tightening oversight of toy safety. Last year millions of toys, most of them imported from China, were recalled because of lead or other hazards. House and Senate versions of the bill are awaiting a conference meeting to resolve differences.

But Republicans suggested Tuesday that Democrats are moving too fast.

"I hope we're not using this hearing to put something hastily into that conference report without letting the House do it's due diligence to understand the science," said Republican Rep. Michael Burgess.

A scientist from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which oversees the safety of toys, said the agency sees no need for a ban. Based on the commission's research, a child would have to chew on a plastic toy for 75 minutes a day to absorb minimally dangerous levels of phthalates. Government scientists found most children only chew on toys for about one to two minutes each day.

Many of the largest toy companies, including Mattel Inc. and Hasbro Inc., agreed in 1998 to exclude certain phthalates from their toys.

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