The proposed rule would:

• Designate BPA as a Priority Chemical under the KSPA;
• Ban the use of BPA in reusable food and beverage containers, effective January 1, 2012;
• Require manufacturers of infant formula or baby food stored in plastic containers, jars, or cans to report if they use BPA in their products and alternatives to BPA for these uses;
• Manufacturers of toys, child care articles, and tableware to report on BPA use.

Comments on the proposed rule can be submitted through August 30, 2010 to Andrea Lani and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (Andrea.Lani@maine.gov).

The hearing is today! Follow our Public Policy Director at MWLobbyist on twitter to get up-to-the-minute updates on the event! Check back tomorrow for more details.

What’s the lucky chemical? BPA. Bisphenol A is a chemical that has been linked to breast and prostate cancers, diabetes, obesity, and learning disabilities, and reproductive health problems.

These health effects are particularly pronounced for women. According to a Natural Resources Defense Council and Safer Chemicals Health Families Report,

“BPA is a hormone-disrupting chemical that mimics estrogen, the female sex hormone essential for the development and function of reproductive organs … fetal exposure to BPA is linked to developmental and reproductive harm including earlier onset of puberty, increased susceptibility to breast and prostate cancer … BPA also has been associated with miscarriages and infertility …”

But it’s not all bad. Maine has the opportunity to join a handful of pioneering states across the country to ban BPA and lead the way in environmental health policy – again.

But, we can’t do it without your help!

On Thursday, August 19, 2010, the Board of Environmental Protection will hold a public hearing at the Augusta Holiday Inn/Ground Round at 12:30 p.m. to discuss a BPA ban for Maine.

And, we want you to be there! We need a strong public turnout and many written public comments in order to combat the BPA lobby’s arguments against a ban.

E-mail Anne at asheldon@mainewomen.org to sign up to attend, or for more information about the hearing – your attendence could make all the difference.

Can’t make it but still want to make a difference? Click here to submit a written statement in support of the BPA ban.

Not persuaded yet? Check out this fantastic Opinion Piece written by Colby Student, Blair Braverman.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Are you moved by this film to take political action? Click here to write a letter to your senator about the Safe Chemicals Act of 2010

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Want to learn more? The Maine Women’s Policy Center & Planned Parenthood of Northern New England will be co-hosting an event July 26th in Portland. Contact asheldon@mainewomen.org to RSVP.

It is time we fix our broken chemical safety system!

Clearly better chemical policy reform is good for our health and our purse, but here are some reasons why reforming our broken system will benefit our health, our purse and our children.

• Our Body: Scientists have linked chemicals in building products, plastics, personal care products, and household cleaners to impairment to the reproductive system, additionally new studies have linked early life exposure to chemicals and the later diagnosis of breast cancer . [1] Reforming our chemical policy would mean real preventative health care.

• Our purse: Chemical Policy reform can save us millions in health care costs! In fact, a Safer Chemicals Healthy families report estimates that we can save our health care system 5 Billion dollars a year! [2]

Our Children: Neurotoxic chemicals in our environment can have significant effects on the brain, especially the developing Brain. Chemical such as lead and mercury have been linked to developmental disabilities. [3]

T

Help the Alliance for a Clean and Healthy Maine protect children, workers, and neighbors from toxic chemicals.

Get the toxic Deca flame retardant out of plastic shipping pallets to keep it out of our food supply.

Keep toxic products out of landfills and incinerators.

Protect workers from the worst toxic chemicals used on the job.

Protect the right of neighbors to know about aerial pesticide spraying near their homes and schools.

Keep Maine’s Kid-Safe Products Law on track to get the worst chemicals out of everyday products.

Meet in the Cross Cafe at 8:30 AM

(ground floor of the Cross Office building)

You must register to attend this event!  email asheldon@mainewomen.org or call 207-622-0851, ext. 23.

Click on the photo to take action!

Throughout the past 2 weeks this giant baby bottle has been traveling across the state.

In the photos below, a group of children from a local daycare joined us – with their own handmade signs.

For more information about our work to “Get BPA out of our bodies,” and to sign the petition, check out the action page of our website.

Check out the article from the Times Record.