On Tuesday the Environmental Toxic and Safety Committee will vote on AB 1108 (Ma) a bill to ban two dangerous chemicals from products intended for kids under three years old. The chemical industry has been lobbying in Sacramento and calls and email to your legislators will make a difference.
 Email you legislator today and urge them to pass AB 1108 (Ma) the toxic baby bottle bill.

Background:
As children's minds and bodies go through the delicate processes of growing and developing, they are particularly vulnerable to chemicals that could affect proper development.  Sometimes chemical exposures come not only through the air we breathe and the water we drink, but through common products in our homes.

Phthalates are chemical substances that make PVC plastic soft and flexible. Among many other things, they are used in soft plastic toys and other baby products, such as bath books, rubber ducks, and teethers.  Phthalates leach out of plastic over time.  Because children have a natural tendency to suck on objects as a way of exploring the world around them, these phthalates can leach out of these products and enter their bodies.

Phthalates have been shown to have negative effects on human health:
.        Phthalates interfere with the natural functioning of the hormone
system.
.        Exposure may cause reproductive and genital defects.
.        Exposure is linked to premature birth and early onset of puberty.
.        Phthalates may lower sperm count and are associated with the risk
factors for testicular cancer.
 

Four phthalates are listed on California's Proposition 65 list as
reproductive toxins, and at least fourteen countries and the European Union have already banned or are phasing out phthalates to protect children's health.

Although several of the leading manufacturers of toys and baby products in
the U.S. have restricted the use of phthalates over the last few years,
there are still many products on the market that contain phthalates.  There
is no law requiring the phase-out of these chemicals.

Bisphenol-A is an industrial chemical that is used to make polycarbonate
plastic.  Among other products, it can be found in clear plastic baby
bottles, reusable water bottles, and microwave ovenware.  This has caused
concern since bisphenol-A can leach out of the products and may affect human health.Studies reveal that at very low levels bisphenol-A can cause endocrine disrupting effects, meaning it can disrupt the normal functioning of our hormones.  Studies show links between bisphenol-A exposure and problems such as obesity, ADHD, disruption of the thyroid system, reproductive impairment, and cancer. Studies also show that bisphenol-A can leach out of plastic baby bottles. The leaching appears to be worse if the bottle is old or scratched, or made of a lower quality material.

Some major bottle producers, such as Medela, make plastic bottles without
bisphenol-A.  However, most major U.S. baby bottle manufacturers use
bisphenol-A in their production, and there is no law prohibiting its use.

Sample email
Dear Assemblymember- Please support AB 1108. This bill bans two dangerous chemicals from products intended for kids under the age of three. We need to do everything we can to protect our kids from dangerous chemicals. AB 1108 is a step in the right direction.

For Moms helping Moms find  products without harmful ingredients

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