Calif. panel says BPA OK, but...

California's Developmental and Reproductive Toxicant Identification Committee, in three separate votes on July 15, voted 7-0 not to list bisphenol A on the state's list of toxic chemicals under the voter-approved Proposition 65. Environmental groups and consumer health advocates that were lobbying to put BPA on the list consider the votes a minor setback. The Los Angeles Times' Greenspace blog quotes one saying "We see the decision as basically a speed bump on the way to banning a chemical that we think people should not be ingesting, especially pregnant women or infants and toddlers." Even Dorothy Burk, chairwoman of the committee that voted in favor of BPA, told the Times in a phone interview: "I think if I had a baby I probably would try to use glass." Not exactly a ringing endorsement of polycarbonate. There definitely has been more critical coverage of this issue in the news media in recent weeks, with more experts questioning the importance of placing restrictions on BPA. But BPA bans aren't going away anytime soon.