LEGISLATOR STEVE STERN INTRODUCES “TOXIN–FREE TODDLERS AND BABIES ACT”

FEBRUARY 4, 2009

Legislation Would Ban Sale of Baby Bottles and Toddler Cups
Containing BPA

Left to right – Elsa Ford, Brentwood Bay Shore Breast Cancer Coalition (front) / Helene Aronson, Child Care Council of Suffolk, Inc. (rear) / Zachary Rotter, Student & Scientists Program, Walt Whitman HS & (LITEA) LI Teen Environmental Activists / Rubab Rehman, LITEA (rear) / Tehreem Rehman, Student & Scientists Program, Walt Whitman HS & LITEA / Legislator Steve Stern / Bobbi Chase-Wilding, Clean NY (rear) / Karen Joy Miller, Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition / Laura Weinberg, Great Neck Breast Cancer Coalition / Tawaun Weber, Vision LI (rear) / Stacy Rebello, Learning Disabilities Association of LI / Stephen Boese, Learning Disabilities of NY (rear) / Carol Susskind, Islip Breast Cancer Coalition. Missing from photo – Donna Jurasits, Babylon Breast Cancer Coalition and Pat Licata, W. Islip Breast Cancer Coalition for LI.

HUNTINGTON, NY –Suffolk County Legislator Steve Stern (D-Huntington) 16th LD has introduced landmark legislation to protect babies and toddlers from ingesting the synthetic estrogen Bisphenol-A (BPA) which is used in the manufacture of hard plastics such as baby bottles and “sippy” cups designed for young children. Numerous scientific studies have shown that leaching of BPA has serious health consequences such as neurobehavioral disorders, including hyperactivity and learning disorders, disorders of the prostate and uterus, links to heart disease, abnormal liver function and diabetes and increased susceptibility to breast and prostate cancer. Legislator Stern was joined by several public health and environmental advocates at a public hearing held at the legislature in

support of this important initiative.

“This legislation presents another opportunity to re-shape environmental policy,” according to Karen Joy Miller, Director of the Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition-Prevention is the Cure.” “BPA is linked to abnormalities of the male reproductive system, early puberty and obesity. We can help protect future generations by passing this legislation.”

There are safe alternatives to BPA. Mass market retailers such as Babies “R” Us have removed infant and toddler products containing BPA from their shelves and Canada has also banned the sale of such products.

“This initiative is a pro-active precautionary measure which is consistent with this Legislature’s long and proud history of protecting the health of our residents. We have never been afraid of challenging the status quo, particularly when it comes to the priority of ensuring our children’s health,” Legislator Stern said. “We strongly believe that this legislation will have a significant impact in protecting the health of our young children by removing products containing BPA from the store shelves in our community.”