October 13, 2008 States seek to ban BPA in baby bottles Play video

(NECN: Brian Burnell, Hartford, Conn.) - Attorneys general from three states are calling on companies that make baby bottles and baby formula containers to stop using a chemical called BPA in the process. Connecticut's attorney general is one of the three and he says the states have to make up for the federal government's failure on this.

BPAs are used to harden the plastic in the bottles and containers. The trouble is they leach into the food when heated and studies show they cause serious health problems in babies.

11-month-old Liam Heaney gets his milk only from a glass baby bottle. His parents are aware of the dangers of BPAs and have always looked out for him.

"I would say that you're never 100% sure but to stay on the safe side we prefer to use the glass bottles as opposed to anything plastic and even with toys and stuff like that we tend to go with manufacturers that manufacture in the United States and also advertise that they use non-lead based pains and stuff like that," says Brian Heaney of West Hartford.

Connecticut's attorney general wants to make it easier for Brian and all parents by removing BPAs from all plastic baby bottles and formula containers. BPA is short for Bisphenol-A. It is a chemical used in the manufacturing of plastic containers.

"This chemical is toxic for people of any age but particularly harmful for children when baby bottles or baby formula containers are heated and the chemical leaches into the formula

A recent study by the Yale School of Medicine confirms other research that shows BPAs harm neurological and immune system development in infants. There are also health implications for older children and adults, including early onset of puberty, increased rates of breast and prostate cancer, obesity and diabetes. Blumenthal and his colleagues from New Jersey and Delaware have sent a letter to 11 companies that use BPAs, asking them to stop voluntarily.

"Stopping the use of this product is absolutely feasible and affordable because there are substitute chemicals that can be used to harden plastic," says Blumenthal.

The companies might see an increase in sales if they stopped using BPAs and labeled their products "BPA Free."

The attorney general is very down on the FDA for refusing to take up this issue. He says the evidence is clear, but the FDA simply won't act so it is up to the states.