Report Title:

Children; Toxic Substances; Bisphenol-A, Phthalates

 

Description:

Requires the Legislative Reference Bureau to perform a study, working with information from the Centers for Disease Control investigating the risks involved in the use of phthalates and bisphenol-A in consumer products, including children's toys and childcare products.  (HB1633 HD1)

 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1633

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT


 

 

RELATING TO TOXIC PRODUCTS.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that chronic diseases such as asthma, autism, birth defects, cancers, developmental disabilities, diabetes, endometriosis, infertility, and Parkinson's disease are increasingly linked to repeated and increased exposure to toxic substances.  Growing children are particularly at risk to chemicals in their environment, as they face greater exposure per pound of body weight and are physiologically more susceptible to chemicals.  Precautionary measures must be taken to protect them.

     A recent United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study found that ninety-five per cent of Americans have detectable levels of bisphenol-A in their bodies.  The observed levels of bisphenol-A were within the range of concentrations known to reliably cause adverse results in laboratory experiments.  Government toxicologists in the national toxicology program, including scientists from the National Institutes of Health and other agencies, have expressed concern that bisphenol-A can cause developmental problems in the brain and hormonal systems of infants and children.  Toxicologists based their findings on studies conducted on animals and could not dismiss the possibility that the effects in animals may occur in humans.

     More than one hundred thirty studies have suggested that bisphenol-A exposure, even in very low doses, is linked to a staggering number of health problems, including prostate cancer, breast cancer, obesity, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders, brain damage, altered immune system, lowered sperm count, and premature puberty.  Numerous studies have shown that polycarbonate plastics break down and leach bisphenol-A into food or beverages in contact with the plastics.

     Scientific evidence has also shown that phthalates are found in humans at levels associated with adverse effects.  Population studies show that virtually everyone carries some level of phthalates in their body.  The European Union and many countries have restricted the use of phthalates in children’s toys.  The European Union has banned di-2-ethyl hexyl phthalate, di-n-butyl phthalate, and butyl benzyl phthalate in all toys and child care articles and diisononyl phthalate, diisodecyl phthalate, and di-n-octyl phthalate in toys and child care articles small enough for a child's mouth.  Prior to the European Union ban, the following countries had also banned phthalates in children’s toys:  Argentina, Austria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Fiji, Finland, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Norway, and Sweden.

     The purpose of this Act is to require the legislative reference bureau to perform a study, working with information from the Centers for Disease Control, investigating the risks involved in the use of phthalates and bisphenol-A in consumer products, including children's toys and childcare products.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  The legislative reference bureau shall perform a study, working with information from the Centers for Disease Control, investigating the risks involved in the use of phthalates and bisphenol-A in consumer products, including children's toys and childcare products.

     (b)  The legislative reference bureau shall submit its findings, including any suggested legislation to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2010 Regular Session.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on January 1, 2050.