New research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows a significant spike in urine BPA (bisphenol-A) levels in individuals consuming canned soup products.

A new study published in the recent issue of the journal Pediatrics concluded that girls exposed to BPA (bisphenol-A) while in utero showed a greater risk of exhibiting behaviors including hyperactivity, anxiousness, aggressiveness and depression than boys.

California Governor Jerry Brown signed the Toxin-Free Infants and Toddlers Act into law on October 4, 2011 making it illegal beginning July 1, 2012 for any baby bottles or sippy cups sold in the state to contain the toxic chemical, Bisphenol-A in the state of California.

While controversy continues to surround the safety of BPA (bisphenol-A), the widely used chemical compound found in a variety of polycarbonate plastics, France's ecology minister, Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, announced she's seeking labeling requirements for any food containers that contain BPA sold in France.

Major chemical companies have been seeking to block the addition of several new categories of chemicals proposed under the Toxic Substances Control Act by the EPA that the agency says could be a threat to humans and the environment.

Pressure from a number of shareholders demanding a plan of action by the Coca-Cola Company to eliminate bisphenol-A (BPA) from its soda can linings was not met with empathy at Wednesday's company meeting in Atlanta.

Women exposed to pesticides and plasticizers are more likely to have fertility problems and lower birth-weight babies, says a new study.

Plasticizers (or phthalates) are chemical additives used to increase plasticity and softness of materials like plastic, clay, cement, and concrete. Bisphenol A - notoriously known as BPA - is found in some plasticizers.

You can find a lot of nasty stuff in plastics used to package our foods, such as water bottles. The most notorious is BPA - short for Bisphenol A - a compound used to make plastic, which has been linked to attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and neurological disorders in fetuses, infants, and young children.

Not to mention all this plastic is polluting our planet by clogging up landfills and floating around our ocean, like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch; a giant island of trash and plastic roughly the size of Texas in the North Pacific Ocean.

But one Washington, DC supermarket is doing its part to cut out plastic, banning water bottles from sale in its six regional supermarkets.

MOM's Organic Market has launched its “Battle the Bottle” campaign, kicking plastic water bottles out of stores. And instead MOM's will be installing water filtration machines in stores, allowing shoppers to refill their own bottles for free, but only up to one gallon. The filters will be up and running in a few weeks.

A spokesperson for MOM's said, “Societies are truly addicted to plastic, much in the way we are addicted to oil.

MOM's campaign is in support of DC's anti-plastic push. The city already adds a 5-cent tax on plastic bags, which has slashed their use dramatically.

I shop with the reusable bags and when I moved I used any plastic bags I did have for box stuffing. I'm a genius!

Image credit: Ozville

Last year, BPA was found into interfere with brain cells and cause learning impairments. That’s why states like Connecticut, New Jersey and Delaware wanted it banned.

Many claim the FDA is too relaxed on BPA. So Wednesday, a group of companies, foundations and advocacy groups petitioned the FDA to better ensure the soundness of research on the safety of BPA.

The coalition claims the Food & Drug Administration is too dependent on industry-data and that the BPA industry wishes to prevent regulation and protect industries that use Bisphenol-A.

Without government-backed regulation companies that produce and use BPA will have no reason to investigate the potential health consequences of the chemical. If the FDA were to put pressure on the BPA industry, it would force manufacturers to develop a safe alternative.

Listen, the government has to protect us from potentially harmful products, because companies don’t care. For example, in 2001—NOT 1801—a company was fined $500,000 for selling flammable children’s pajamas.

Hard to believe stuff like this is still going on today!

Via Red Green and Blue.