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
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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.
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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.”
More links:
Suffolk
County Executive Steve Levy signs into law, April 2, 2009 – The
Toxins Free Toddlers & Babies Act April, 2009
SUFFOLK FIRST IN NATION
TO BAN TOXIC BABY BOTTLES March 3, 2009
Suffolk County First In the
Nation Ban on Bisphenol-A (BPA)
Sex
and BPA Don't Mix, Say Researchers
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