Assemblywoman Fiona Ma: Toxic Toys and Baby Bottles

Cancer-causing chemicals are leaching out of toys and baby bottles used by children everyday.

As children's minds and bodies go through the delicate processes of growing and developing, they are particularly vulnerable to chemicals that could affect proper development. Sometimes, chemical exposure comes not only through the air we breathe and the water we drink, but through common products in our homes.

Despite substantial scientific evidence of an increasing detectable chemical presence in human bodies, California law still permits the use of chemicals in toys and child care products.

To address the issue, I have introduced Assembly Bill (AB) 1108, which seeks to remedy the problem by prohibiting the manufacturing, sale and distribution of toys and childcare products intended for use by children under the age of three that contain bisphenol-A and phthalates. The legislation is modeled after an ordinance that I wrote while at the SF Board of Supervisors.

The introduction of the bill coincided with a new report conducted by the Environment California Research and Policy Center that shows bisphenol-A leaches from clear, plastic baby bottles into liquids contained in the bottles. Studies reveal that at very low levels, bisphenol-A can disrupt the normal functioning of our hormones.

The chemical is also linked to a host of other problems, such as obesity, ADHD, disruption of the thyroid system, reproductive impairment, and cancer. Phthalates, the other chemical impacted by AB1108, are used to make plastic soft and flexible and are used in soft plastic toys and other baby products, such as bath books, rubber ducks and teethers.

Because children have a natural tendency to suck on objects as a way of exploring the world around them, the phthalates can leach out of the products and enter their bodies. Phthalates are linked to cancer, reproductive defects, and early onset of puberty.

The chemical industry is expected to be in strong opposition to the bill, so in order to secure passage through the legislative process, it is important for everyone to voice their support through letters from individuals, neighborhood groups and associations, which you may be a part of.

While I understand the opposition's concerns, there are alternative replacement chemicals available. There is even a provision in the bill to delays implementation until 2009 to provide the industry with time to comply with the new restrictions.

AB1108 will have its first legislative committee hearing this in April. I will keep you informed as the bill moves through the legislative process. In the meantime, it is important that parents stay informed on which products are safe for use by their children.

On my Assembly Web site there is a page that features more information on the report and what to look for when shopping for safe, chemical-free toys and child care products. You can access my Web site at: www.assembly.ca.gov/a12.

It's tax time again!
As a CPA who has experienced the headaches of tax season all too many times, I want to let everyone know that this year's tax deadline is April 17. Taxpayers will have extra time to file and pay because April 15 falls on a Sunday and the following day, Monday, April 16, is Emancipation Day, a legal holiday in the District of Columbia.

I have partnered with ACORN to use my accounting skills and provide free tax preparation services for low and moderate-income taxpayers who cannot afford traditional paid preparers.

ACORN has set up seven centers located throughout the City and you can find one near you by logging on to my Web site, contacting my district office at (415) 557-2312, or by calling ACORN at (415) 587-9080.

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma represents the 12th Assembly District.