"California Senate Approves Ban on BPA in Plastics"

"SACRAMENTO -- Despite a fierce lobbying effort by the U.S. chemical industry, the state Senate narrowly approved a proposal Tuesday that would ban the use of a substance in baby bottles, toddler sippy cups and food containers that independent scientists say is a threat to childhood development.

The bill by state Sen. Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills) that would prohibit the use of bisphenol A -- commonly dubbed BPA -- now goes to the Assembly, where it is expected to face a wall of resistance from manufacturers of the products that contain the chemical.

Industry leaders have focused on California for a lobbying and public relations campaign they hope will turn back efforts by health and consumer groups to outlaw use of the chemical, a component in many types of plastic and plastic-lined containers."

Eric Bailey reports for the Los Angeles Times June 3, 2009.