Tuesday, May 21, 2013 Maine took an important step to protect
children by phasing out the use of plastic baby bottles and
sippy cups containing the chemical bisphenol-A. The Board of
Environmental Protection should go a step further this week and
vote to eliminate the chemical from baby food containers as
well. Lilijana Cvetkoska of Cape Elizabeth holds her infant
daughter while leaving baby food on the desk of Gov. Paul
LePage's receptionist on Jan. 9, as she and others show their
support for a ban on BPA in baby food containers. Andy
Molloy/Kennebec Journal file photo There is a strong body of
evidence that BPA is harmful. The chemical, used in plastics, is
unstable and leaches into liquids. A growing body of evidence
links it to birth defects, learning disabilities, behavior
problems, breast and prostate cancer, early puberty in girls and
other health concerns. Children are the most vulnerable, and it
makes sense to remove BPA from products they are likely to use.
Market forces are already phasing the chem