A civilized society must protect those who cannot speak for themselves, including (but not limited to) infants, children, pets and wildlife. What does it say about California’s society when two pieces of legislation written to protect us from toxic chemicals go down to defeat? Senate Bill 1713, to outlaw Bisphenol A, was voted down and Senate Bill 1313, to outlaw perfluorinated compounds, passed but was then vetoed by the Governor.
On both of these bills, our elected representatives, Senator Sheila Kuehl and Assembly Member Julia Brownley, voted “yes.” They should be appreciated for doing so.
On the other hand, conflicts of interest prevent some scientists and politicians from acting in the best interest of society. A doctor who sits on the FDA Science Board on Bisphenol A also co-directs a science center which recently received a $5 million donation from a proponent of Bisphenol A. Also, the National Toxicology Program hired a contractor to assess the safety of Bisphenol A, but it turns out the contractor had also worked for a major manufacturer of Bisphenol A. These conflicts have to stop.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has detected Bisphenol A in the urine of 93% of Americans over the age of six. At the bottom of the Pacific Ocean is a large mass of plastic which is currently breaking down. It contains massive amounts of Bisphenol A, which is linked to reproductive, genetic and cellular defects. No wonder the populations of fish, dolphins and whales have decreased dramatically, when one considers the toxic soup they have to live in.
The Environmental Working Group recently tested cord blood from ten newborn babies. They found 287 chemicals, 157 of which are toxic to the nervous system. In newborns! Could these toxins be why we are seeing alarming increases in developmental disabilities (1 in 6 children now), asthma (1 in 10), childhood cancer (27% increase), and pre-term births (23% increase)?
Children and pets are the “canaries in the coal mine.” We must all get involved. Most of us adults were not exposed to so many toxins at such a young age as the children today. Our younger generation deserves the same considerations and protections that were provided for us. Every child deserves a healthy childhood.
Cindy Emminger