States, Congress to seek anti-BPA laws

MILWAUKEE, Nov. 18 (UPI) -- U.S. federal and state lawmakers say they would work to ban the chemical bisphenol A from food and beverage containers.

Rep. Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., said he plans to re-introduce a bill when the 111th Congress convenes in January to ban BPA from food and beverage containers, citing an analysis conducted by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the newspaper reported Tuesday.

The Journal Sentinel measured the amounts of the chemical released after heating, and used the information to calculate how much BPA children of various ages and weights would consume if they were to eat from the

containers. The newspaper reported all 10 products it tested leaked toxic doses of the chemical when heated.

"This test of 'microwave safe' containers adds to the already vast and compelling body of knowledge indicating that BPA is dangerous and unsuitable for all food and beverage containers," Markey said.

The Journal Sentinel found 17 studies in which scientists looked at levels of BPA exposure in live laboratory animals that showed harmful effects.

In addition to Congress, 13 states have proposed bans on BPA. Wisconsin is not one of them.