***MULTIMEDIA PACKAGE*** Greenstein Multimedia Package on 'Toxic-Free Children's Products Act' Legislation

GREENSTEIN MULTIMEDIA PACKAGE ON 'TOXIC-FREE CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS ACT' LEGISLATION

(PLAINSBORO) - Assemblywoman Linda R. Greenstein (D-Middlesex) today issued a multimedia package on her legislation (A-2332) to prohibit children's products containing bisphenol-A and phthalates from being sold in the state.

It follows a study published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association that linked exposure to bisphenol-A with cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and liver-enzyme abnormalities in adults.

The multimedia package consists of a video op-ed on the topic, audio of same, and a copy of the script as delivered.

The video op-ed can be accessed directly via our Web site, www.assemblydems.com, or by clicking here.

The audio file is available upon request.

The script is appended below:

"Every new parent wants what's best for their children, whether it's protecting them from danger, keeping them safe, or keeping them healthy.

"However, most new parents are unaware of a potential danger lurking in the plastics used to make the most common baby products.

"Items such as baby bottles and sippy cups all contain a chemical known as Bisphenol-A, more commonly referred to as BPA, which is used to make plastic tough, lightweight, shatter-resistant, and clear.

"And many children's teething aids and other items that wind up in kids mouths contain a chemical called phthalates, a chemical used to make the plastics in these toys soft and flexible.

"Unfortunately, there is a growing concern and mounting evidence that these chemicals are unsafe.

"BPA and phthalates can leech into food if the plastic becomes overheated or into the body if the plastic becomes cracked or over stressed.

"And several recent scientific studies have found increasingly strong links between phthalate and BPA levels and birth defects and other long-term developmental disabilities.

"That's why earlier this year, along with Assembly members Valerie Vainieri Huttle and Wayne DeAngelo, I sponsored the 'Toxic-free Children's Products Act,' A-2332.

"This legislation would make it illegal to sell, make, or distribute products that contain phthalates or BPA in New Jersey, protecting our children from toys and other common products that could be hazardous to their health.

"Banning phthalates and BPA is one way we can help protect New Jersey's children, because parents have enough other things to worry about when it comes to raising a child.

"For more information on this legislation or on any other issues, please feel free to contact my office by either phone or e-mail."

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