State Lawmaker Introduces Bill to Ban Certain Chemicals in Children’s Products

By Christy Burns

Published on March 01, 2007

The bill, authored by Fiona Ma (D), is similar to an ordinance passed by the city of San Francisco last June, and is the second of its kind to be introduced to the Legislature within the past two years. The first, sponsored by former assemblywoman Wilma Chan (D), was defeated in committee last year amid a flurry of lobbying campaigns and hearings.

The new bill seeks to ban the distribution, sale, and manufacture of all toys and child care products containing bisphenol A, one of the chemical building blocks of hard plastic. In addition, it requires more limited use of a group of chemicals known as phthalates, which are designed to soften polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, in toys and child care products for children aged three and younger.

A number of studies by various environmental, governmental, and commercial groups have spurred controversy over the level of danger presented by these chemicals. Some tests have shown that bisphenol A mimics estrogen and can cause mammary and reproductive abnormalities; however, the results of these tests are still disputed within the scientific and medical community.

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