Bisphenol A, or BPA, is a hormonally active chemical found in everything from cash register receipts to soup and beverage cans. After coming under fire in recent years for their use of BPA, every major drink container and baby bottle manufacturer has phased out the use of the compound and now label products as BPA-free. Earlier this year, after high levels of BPA were reported in soup can lining, Campbell’s pledged to phase out the use of the toxic chemical.

The alarm over the widespread use of BPA is entirely warranted. BPA has been linked with increased risk for cardiovascular disease, breast and prostate cancer, early puberty, obesity, diabetes, infertility, erectile dysfunction, and learning and attention-related disorders. Most importantly, a new review of more than 800 studies published last month in the journal Endocrine Reviews shows that even extremely small doses of BPA can be toxic. The study authors conclude that due to the effects of low doses of hormone-disrupting chemicals, “fundamental changes in chemical testing and safety determination are needed to protect human health.”

For the past several years, the Breast Cancer Fund, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and other leading environmental health groups have been urging the FDA to ban the use of BPA in food packaging. In 2008, the NRDC filed a citizen’s petition arguing that the FDA should ban all uses of BPA that result in it being found in food. Despite the legal requirement to respond to the petition, the FDA did nothing. In 2010, the NRDC sued the federal agency to force a response. The consent judgment that settled this case in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York in December required the FDA to respond to the NRDC’s petition by March 31.

Some opponents of the petition, such as the American Chemistry Council and the North American Metal Packaging Alliance, claimed that banning BPA is unnecessary. Citing companies like Philips Avent that have chosen to self-regulate, they maintained that enough has already been done to curb the most dangerous uses of BPA. But not all companies self-regulate, nor can they be expected to. As consumer products are increasingly manufactured overseas, it is critical to set high standards for safety in domestic manufacturing. It is also important to be able to hold imports to the same regulatory standards.

In the past, other toxic materials have been routinely used in consumer products even after the devastating health impacts were discovered. Lead-based paint, found to cause kidney damage and developmental delays in children under 6, was once used on furniture and walls until the Consumer Product Safety Commission banned its use in 1977, and was used in toys until 2008. In 1989, after decades of widespread use, the Environmental Protection Agency banned the use of asbestos, a cancer-causing insulation, in products such as corrugated cardboard and certain types of pipe insulation (though it is worth noting that even today, many consumer products can still legally contain trace amounts of asbestos).

Thousands of people could have been spared the harmful side effects of exposure to these toxic materials if manufacturers had self-regulated and regulatory agencies had acted quicker. Similarly, if regulators had heeded the groundbreaking BPA research studies conducted by independent scientists since the 1990s, use of the chemical could have long ago been phased out. Because BPA so easily leaches out of plastic and aluminum consumer products and into human and animal bodies, and because it is toxic in even small doses, it should be banned from all food packaging. Consider this: Why bother buying certified organic when healthy food is packaged with toxic chemicals, no label or warning required? Perhaps we can avoid lead in our paint or asbestos in our insulation, but how can we be expected to avoid the ubiquitous use of BPA in the lining of canned food?

Despite the FDA’s refusal to act, a nationwide ban is critically needed. Eleven states have already banned the use of BPA in some infant feeding products. Supported by sound scientific research and bolstered by successful efforts to ban the use of BPA in other countries, a concerned alliance of national and international organizations, including the Breast Cancer Fund and the Plastic Pollution Coalition, rallied behind the NRDC’s petition and lawsuit. A growing list of celebrities, including Martha Stewart and Jeff Bridges, also pledged their support to the cause. The fact that the FDA ignored the growing chorus of concerned citizens, scientists, and public health and environmental advocates is alarming.

The FDA is tasked with monitoring and upholding a high standard of public health and food safety. By seemingly bowing to pressure from manufacturers and ignoring disturbing scientific evidence of harm, the FDA has effectively allowed for the continued use of toxic chemicals in food and drink packaging will only cause further preventable harm. How can we trust a regulatory agency entrusted with the safety of our food supply when, on the issue of BPA, they fail to regulate at all?

Jeanne Rizzo is a registered nurse and the President and CEO of the Breast Cancer Fund. Daniella Dimitrova Russo is a co-founder and Executive Director of the Plastic Pollution Coalition. Brittany Shoot is a journalist and the Managing Editor at the Plastic Pollution Coalition.

In a series of press conferences, media interviews and meetings with local environmental organizations, the PPC group discussed plastic pollution and its effects on eco-system degradation, public health, environmental justice and global awareness about these issues. In a top-line estimate, we have reached over 100,000 people in a combination of press conferences and media coverage.

In Central America, the plastic pollution problem has a key focus on plastic bottles, plastic bags and of course, single-use and disposable plastics. Yet we were so happy to discover a solution that is almost extinct in North America – refillable glass bottles.  In talking with business owners we found out that refilling bottles is more economical as well.

We were happy to discover that small roadside restaurants serve food on metal platters, lined with palm leaves, and metal utensils. Beautiful, functional, reusable.

This visit is so important to the global movement to end plastic pollution, that we would like to share the details with you and the individual presentations. Press clippings and Spanish translations will be posted as they become available.

• Daniella Russo, Plastic Pollution Coalition – a general overview of the issue of plastic pollution as the nexus of eco-system degradation, public health, environmental justice and corporate responsibility. Resources: presentation in English | key points in English | key points in Spanish
• Wallace “J” Nichols, LiVBLUE – an overview of plastic pollution as a key threat to marine animals, and the environment. Resources: abstract in English | abstract in Spanish (coming soon)
• Nancy Buermeyer, Breast Cancer Fund – linkages between chemicals used in plastics and public health issues. Resources: full presentation in English | full presentation in Spanish (coming soon) | List of scientific references | BCF’s State of The Evidence Report, just released.
• JD Russo, PPC Advisor – how to engage people, cutting through the wall of indifference and apathy Resources: abstract in English | abstract in Spanish (coming soon)

NICARAGUA

Partner organisations Jovenes Ambientalistas and Preserve Planet hosted the press conference at Auditorio del Centro del Conocimiento. Over 200 people came in to hear the message; to ask questions and to engage in a dialog about the issues and the solutions. At the conclusion of the press conference, Jovenes Ambientalistas announced a program with youth organizations to address the issues of plastic pollution. JD Russo was invited to speak at local schools. The event was covered by La Nacion, the leading publication in Nicaragua. We were truly impressed by the work of Jovenes Ambientalistas and Eco-clubes and plan to further collaborate and support their good efforts.

COSTA RICA

Partner organisation  Preserve Planet hosted the press conference at Auditorio Nacional, Museo de los Niños. Again, over 200 people came to hear the talks. After the conclusion of our presentations we gave interviews to the local TV station: the leading newspaper La Nacion published a full page interview with J Nichols; hosted an hour-long live chat at La Nacion, and visited every radio station for interviews. The interest was great, with special focus on the report about little known pubic health impacts of chemicals used in plastic products.  There were many questions about bio-plastics (pros and cons), and alternatives. We were excited to hear that Preserve Planet is planning on launching a campaign to raise awareness about plastic bottles. Just some of the press coverage in Costa Rica:

Newspapers: La Nacion  (two times), La Republica, Tico Times, La Prensa Libre (full page); Magazines: Revista Perfil; TV: Channel 6 News, Channel  7 news, channel Extra tv 42 news, channel 15 Costa Rica University; And many alternative media outlets.

GUATEMALA

Partner organizations G22, SAVIA and Preserve Planet hosted the press conference at Teatro de la Cúpula in Guatemala City.  So many were the attendees, that we invited them to sit on stage with us. The organizers put in a last-minute effort to provide simultaneous translatiors – the attendance exceeded everyone’s expectations. Like all other events, it was a terrific event, of discovery and connectedness with the global movement against plastic pollution. The questions were focused again on alternatives, bio-plastics, new products and learning more about the health impacts. Our Guatemalan hosts inspired us with their vision and true commitment to a lifestyle of environmental consciousness.

This is just a beginning of a great new connection for Plastic Pollution Coalition and we look forward to our next steps.

Please contact us (contact@plasticpollutioncoalition.org) if you would like to be involved in our initiatives in Central America.

In series of press conferences and meetings with local media, the group will share research and data on the global issues of plastic pollution, and reach out to the people of Central America with a call to action – REFUSE single use and disposable plastics; and reduce your plastic footprint.

The details for the press conferences are:

NICARAGUA

Partner orgs: Jovenes Ambientalistas y Preserve Planet

• LUGAR:  Auditorio del Centro del Conocimiento
• DIRECCION:  Ofiplaza el Retiro. Edificio 6, 3er piso Managua
• FECHA Y HORA:  Martes 28 de junio, 9:00 am
• PARA MAYOR INFORMACION:  (505) 22780387. consejero@jovenesambientalistas.org

COSTA RICA

Partner orgs:  Preserve Planet

• LUGAR:  Auditorio Nacional, Museo de los Niños
• FECHA Y HORA:  Miercoles 29 de junio, 2:00 pm
• CONFIRMATION: Luis Diego Marín Schumacher <luisdiego@preserveplanet.org>

GUATEMALA

• Partner orgs: G22, SAVIA y Preserve Planet
• LUGAR:  Teatro de la Cúpula
• DIRECCION:  7a Avenida y 13 Calle zona 9. Tel. 2332.2690 del Teatro
• FECHA Y HORA:  Martes 5 de Julio, 2011 a las 9 a.m.
• CONFIRMACION: pbx 2389.4000 / conferenciappc@cmpvirtual.com

BPA has been banned from baby bottles and children’s sippy cups in Connecticut, Maryland, Minnesota, Washington, Wisconsin, and Vermont, four counties in New York and the City of Chicago. Connecticut and Vermont restrict the use of BPA in baby food and infant formula. Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Denmark have banned BPA in food containers for young children, and calls for bans are moving through Europe.

In California, Senator Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., has introduced legislation that would ban BPA in infant food packaging, in addition to other food and beverage containers.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the plastics industry spent over 5 million dollars attempting to kill this bill in California and describes just how difficult the fight was. More details also in the press release of PPC member, Breast Cancer Fund.

The bill will now go to the California Senate for a concurrence vote (the Senate already passed the bill last year), and then to California Governor Schwarzenegger’s desk.

The mission of the Breast Cancer Fund is closely related to the our mission. First, we share a concern about the carcinogenic properties of plastics. Carcinogenic chemicals are released throughout the entire life cycle of plastics from production, through use and disposal. In addition, we share the Breast Cancer Fund’s strategy to get to the root of the problem by eliminating carcinogens from our products through legislative action like the proposed federal ban on BPA in food and drink containers.

No more than 10 percent of breast cancers are genetic, and science points to toxic chemicals and radiation as factors in the sharp rise of breast cancer incidence. Through public education, policy initiatives, advocacy and innovative campaigns, the Breast Cancer Fund mobilizes the public to secure the changes needed to stop this disease before it starts.

The Breast Cancer Fund focuses on the potential impacts of toxic chemicals on breast cancer; however, the group is cognizant that reducing human exposure will also keep these chemicals out of our air, waterways, soils and ice caps to reduce exposure for all animals, including humans.

The Breast Cancer Fund has taken a lead in federal advocacy for elimination of carcinogens in plastics, and  includes excellent information on its website about the carcinogenic dangers of plastics.

Welcome on board!