French lawmakers ban baby bottle chemical

French lawmakers passed legislation on Wednesday banning baby bottles containing the chemical Bisphenol A, suspected of harming human development.

However, the deputies stopped short of banning the chemical from all plastics, as the opposition parties had sought.

BPA is used in the production of polycarbonated plastics and epoxy resins found in baby bottles, plastic containers, the lining of cans used for food and beverages, and in dental sealants.

Over 130 studies over the past decade have linked even low levels of BPA, which can leach from plastics, to serious health problems, breast cancer, obesity and the early onset of puberty, among other disorders.

The US Food and Drug Administration and its European counterpart, the European Food Safety Authority, have said the chemical is safe in the amounts used in such products as baby bottles.

(c) 2010 AFP