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By SRep. Jon Hinck Wednesday, May 2, 2007

Like other young mothers, Sh–ne McGirr of Portland is doing her best to give her baby girl a safe and healthy start.

Sh–ne puts her baby in a safe sleeping position. Her baby's food is pure and nutritious. No direct mid-day sun. Cigarette smoke is banished.

There is one thing Sh–ne did not know, however. A plastic baby bottle, from a trusted name in baby products, was silently exposing her baby to small doses of a troubling toxic compound linked to developmental disorders.

That toxic compound is called bisphenol-A, or "BPA." It is a chemical now found in many plastic baby bottles.

BPA was originally used as a synthetic hormone. Today it is mostly used to make polycarbonate plastic, which is used in hard plastic products, including baby bottles and some of popular water bottles. Remarkably, BPA is also used to make coatings that line food cans.

Recent studies show that BPA leaches into the food and beverages that it contacts. What is worse, the chemical is linked to developmental problems, like early onset of puberty, abnormal growth, hyperactivity and a genetic defect associated with Down's syndrome.

A class of chemicals called phthalates (pronounced thay-lates) raises similar concerns. Phthalates are used to bind fragrances to the cosmetics and to make plastic pliable. They can be found in baby products like teethers and bath toys. A baby can ingest phthalates by repeatedly chewing and sucking on the soft plastic.

Phthalates too are linked to developmental problems, including premature breast development in girls and male genital defects.

Both BPA and phthalates can attack and disrupt the endocrine system. This happens because these chemicals mimic human hormones, like estrogen, and interfere with signals that control development. Hundreds of peer-reviewed studies show detrimental health effects from surprisingly low doses. Frederick vom Saal, a developmental biologist at the University of Missouri described BPA as acting "like birth control pills." At certain critical times, the body is extraordinarily sensitive to such artificial sex hormones.

Such chemicals have been labeled "gender benders."

Infants and young children are particularly sensitive to such toxic chemicals. Exposures more easily overwhelm small systems, which are particularly susceptible to harm as brains and bodies develop.

BPA, phthalates and other hormone-disrupting chemicals are linked to some unfortunate trends. It is well documented that:

nİThe number of baby boys born with genital defects doubled between 1970 and 1993;

nİIn the last 40 years, obesity among adolescents has quadrupled;

nİChild behavioral problems like hyperactivity are rising steadily; and

nİAnd among girls, the average age of the onset of puberty has been steadily dropping.

There are other potential causes of each of these trends, but hormone-disrupting chemicals are repeatedly implicated.

Despite the existence of safer alternatives, manufacturers and some regulatory agencies resist taking action. However, some governments have risen to the challenge to protect kids from these chemicals.

In 1999, the European Union imposed a temporary ban on the use of six phthalates in toys and childcare articles. In July 2005, it adopted a permanent ban on the use of phthalates in toys.

In 2006, San Francisco became the first U.S. jurisdiction to enact restrictions on the use of phthalates and BPA in products intended for use by children under 3 years of age.

Now Maine is poised to take action to protect infant health. A bill I introduced in the Maine Legislature would promote safety in baby products. LD 837, "An Act To Prevent Infant Exposure to Harmful Hormone-Disrupting Substances," is pending before the Health and Human Services Committee. The bill would prohibit the sale of products for children under 3 made with BPA and phthalates.

Some of us choose to accept risks posed by toxic substances. Babies, however, should benefit from a more proactive and protective approach. While no one should assume that Sh–ne's baby has suffered ill effects from exposure to BPA in baby bottles, there are compelling reasons to avoid such risks.

Toxic chemicals should be left out of baby bottles, teething rings and chewable plastic toys.

- Special to the Press Herald