Ban on Bisphenol A in sports bottles starts in July

OLYMPIA - No sports bottles containing the chemical Bisphenol A (BPA) can be made, sold or distributed in Washington as of July 1, 2012.

This was the second step in a law passed by the state Legislature in 2010 banning the sale of certain products containing BPA.

The law covers sports bottles up to 64 ounces. Bottles, cups or other containers for children under age 3 that contain BPA were banned as of July 2011.

BPA is used primarily to make polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins. Polycarbonate plastic has been used to make products such as compact discs, eyeglass lenses, water bottles, and baby bottles.

Many food and drink cans are lined with epoxy resins that contain BPA. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2.4 billion pounds of BPA were produced in 2007.

A number of national and international scientific organizations have expressed concerns that BPA can interfere with the body's hormonal system.

Recent studies suggest some children may be exposed to enough BPA in their diet to be harmful. Most of these studies used laboratory animals, but the levels of BPA were similar to those that many children have today.

BPA can affect brain development, behavior, and the prostate gland.

- Staff report