Dear Senator Feinstein and Representative Markey:
The undersigned organizations are pleased to express support for the Ban Poisonous Additives Act (S. 593 and H.R. 1523).
Your legislation is an essential step to improving the health of all U.S. citizens. Most Americans are exposed to bisphenol A (BPA) every day.In fact, researchers at the Centers for Disease Control found BPA in nearly 95 percent of the biological specimens they tested. Although the presence of BPA in commonly used goods is shockingly prevalent, the average consumer is unaware of its potential danger or what products to avoid.
BPA, the chemical building block for polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins, is associated with a broad spectrum of adverse health effects. More than 200 scientific studies suggest that BPA exposure at very low doses is linked to a staggering number of health problems, including breast and prostate cancer, altered development of the brain and altered immune systems, lowered sperm counts, and early puberty. Even minuscule amounts – as small as parts per billion or parts per trillion – have been shown to cross the placenta and negatively impact the developing fetus. Of particular concern are two recent studies – a September 2008 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association that linked BPA to heart disease, diabetes, and liver abnormalities in adults; and a University of Cincinnati study which found that BPA interferes with chemotherapy used to treat breast cancer.
In March 2009, Suffolk County, New York signed into law the nation’s first ban on BPA. Nineteen states and three other municipalities are also taking action to more strictly regulate BPA. In addition, U.S. manufacturers are responding to growing consumer concerns: Nalgene and Playtex are phasing out BPA in their products; Wal-Mart and Toys-R-Us have stated that they will no longer sell products containing BPA; and Safeway and Whole Foods recently announced that they also will no longer be stocking baby bottles manufactured with BPA. Just last month, six of the largest manufacturers of baby bottles, including Gerber and Playtex Products, said they will stop using BPA.
Americans expect and believe that our government is safeguarding their health and the health of their families from dangerous chemical exposures, and your legislation is an important step in that direction. We applaud you for your important work on this issue, and hope that your colleagues will agree it is time for Congress to take this common sense step forward to protect the public’s health by banning BPA from all food and beverage containers.
Sincerely,
Alaska Community Action on Toxics (ACAT), Anchorage, AK
Asian Communities for Reproductive Justice, Oakland, CA
Bayview Hunters Point Community Advocates, San Francisco, CA
Breast Cancer Action, San Francisco, CA
Breast Cancer Fund, San Francisco, CA
Coalition for Clean Air, Los Angeles, CA
Commonweal, Bolinas, CA
Healthy Building Network, Berkeley, CA
Healthy Child Healthy World, Los Angeles, CA
Healthy Children Organizing Project, San Francisco, CA
MOMS - Making Our Milk Safe, Alameda, CA
MomsRising.Org, San Francisco, CA
Movement Strategy Center, Oakland, CA
Natural Resources Defense Council, San Francisco, CA
The Women's Foundation of California, San Francisco, CA
Worksafe, Inc., Oakland, CA
The Endocrine Disruption Exchange, Paonia, CO
Planned Parenthood of CT, New Haven, CT
Association of Reproductive Health Professionals, Washington, DC
Environmental Working Group, Washington, DC
Friends of the Earth US, Washington, DC
Greenpeace, Washington, DC
Physicians for Social Responsibility, Washington, DC
U.S. PIRG, Washington, DC
Iowa Breast Cancer Edu-action, Cedar Falls, IA
Environment Illinois, Chicago, IL
Illinois PIRG, Chicago, IL
Clean Water Action, Boston, MA
Clean Production Action, Medford, MA
International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal, Boston, MA
MA Chapter of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental
Disabilities (AAIDD), Sharon, MA
Mass. Breast Cancer Coalition, Quincy, MA
Maryland PIRG, Baltimore, MD
Autism Society of America (ASA), Bethesda, MD
Environmental Health Strategy Center, Bangor, ME
Natural Resources Council of Maine, Augusta, ME
Creative Health Connections LLC, Minneapolis, MN
Health Legacy Coalition, Minneapolis, MN
Indigenous Environmental Network, Bemidji, MN
Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, Minneapolis, MN
Institute for a Sustainable Future, Duluth, MN
Kids for Saving Earth, North Branch, MN
Learning Disabilities Association Minnesota, Golden Valley, MN
Minnesota Association for Children's Mental Health, St. Paul, MN
Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, St. Paul, MN
Minnesota Public Interest Research Group, Minneapolis, MN
Preventing Harm MN, St. Paul, MN
Women's Environmental Institute, Minneapolis, MN
Women’s Voices for the Earth, Missoula, MT
Citizens' Environmental Coalition, Albany, NY
Clean New York, a project of Women's Voices for the Earth, Schenectady, NY
Environmental Action Group of WNY (EJAG), Buffalo, NY
Environmental Advocates of New York, Albany, NY
For A Better Bronx, Bronx, NY
NADD, An association for persons with developmental disabilities
and mental health needs, Kingston, NY
National Institute for Reproductive Health, New York, NY
Oregon Center for Environmental Health, Portland, OR
Health, Education and Resources, Inc., Newport, PA
Center for Health, Environment & Justice, Falls Church, VA
Earth Ministry, Seattle, WA
Institute of Neurotoxicology & Neurological Disorders, Seattle, WA
Mercury Awareness Team, Olympia, WA
Olympic Environmental Council, Sequim, WA
The Lands Council, Spokane, WA
WA Toxics Coalition, Seattle, WA
WISPIRG, Madison, WI