Bad bottles, dangerous toys, lead-painted bibs...and now, kids' cold meds

More upsetting news on the product-safety front:
FDA Limits Children's Cough and Cold Medicines

Could somebody please post something fun? I'm getting awfully depressed over here...
-Maureen

Mama is pissed off

Mamas, did you see this news story today?
Some Baby Bibs Said to Contain Levels of Lead
This problem with contaminated baby products is really raging out of control. I am angry!
-Maureen

Also: Thanks to Erica for posting that National Geographic link regarding green products. It's in the Comments section of the "Re: Debbie Downer" post. I'll add it to the product-safety links list at right when I get a chance.

Re: Debbie Downer

I was suprised like you about this issue. I learned about it 2 years ago...a long time in my opinion from 1999. The Fire Marshall at UCLA gave me an article because he knew I had a baby...well at the time she was no longer taking a bottle and I was freaked out about the time that she had...it is important to note that it is not just bottles but sippy cups as well, anything made of plastic including containers we might drink out of. I can't remember all the details of the article but what I do remember is that the risk is less if the plastic is not worn and in good condition since the chemical is released as a part of the plastic breaking down and that colored plastics are not part of the issue? it is just the clear ones please correct me if I am wrong....the process it takes to make plastic clear is the problem -- also some clear plastics are not made with the chemical so you may want to look at your brand and see before you buy and replace. I read something recently that warned against microwaving food in plastic containers or covered with plastic wrap because chemicals are released from the plastic into our food. I now heat everything in my own ceramic dishes with a papertowel covering to avoid splatter.
-April

Debbie Downer

Hi there, C2CMs. This might not be the happiest way to kick off a brand-new blog, but I wanted to post this because it seems pretty important. Last week I read this Salon.com article about a "hormone disrupting" chemical found in polycarbonate baby bottles (and other polycarbonate products), and I've been a little freaked out ever since. I've had Maya on Dr. Brown's bottles forever, and they're made of polycarbonate.
The science behind the Salon report is controversial, apparently, and there seems to be quite a bit of disagreement among various experts about how potentially dangerous the chemical (bisphenol-A) is. However, I ended up ordering new, glass bottles for Maya anyway from a company called Born Free. They should be arriving soon.
What kills me is that when I googled "bisphenol-A" after reading the Salon piece, I found all sorts of articles from the media on this subject dating back to 1999. So, has everyone else known about this issue for years? Where have I been?
-Maureen