Baby Bottles

Linking prostate cancer to a widespread industrial compound, scientists have found that exposure to a chemical that leaks from plastic causes genetic changes in animals' developing prostate glands that are precursors of the most common form of cancer in males. The chemical, bisphenol A, or BPA, is used in the manufacture of hard, polycarbonate plastic for baby bottles, microwave cookware and other consumer goods, and it has been detected in nearly every human body tested.

The California Assembly put off a final vote on whether to ban the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) from baby bottles and infant formula and baby food containers Wednesday after an emotional debate over children's safety. The measure, favored by a 35-31 vote, twice fell short of 41 necessary for passage. It was scheduled to come up for another vote today. A ferocious lobbying battle over the legislation pitted public health and education groups against chemical, pharmaceutical and packaging giants, and was closely watched around the nation amid similar movements to ban the chemical.

Environmentalists were counting on big gains in Sacramento this summer, with a governor eager to burnish his green credentials in his final months in office. But by the time the legislative session ended at midnight Tuesday, those hopes had fizzled. Activists had worked for passage of such pioneering measures as a ban on plastic grocery bags and expanded use of the sun, wind and other renewable resources to power California homes and businesses. But the bold proposals they saw as a springboard to nationwide environmental efforts collapsed in the face of aggressive industry opposition that included intensive lobbying, television advertising and even mail to voters.

Anna Nicole Smith spent the last days of her life drifting in and out of consciousness under the pale blue comforter of a king-sized hotel bed, too weak to walk, sit up or drink from anything other than a baby bottle, according to court testimony Tuesday. The description of the period preceding the supermodel's 2007 death from an overdose of a sedative and other drugs came on the opening day of a hearing to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to try two physicians and Smith's boyfriend for conspiring to illegally furnish the 39-year-old with prescription medications.

Jessica Simpson toasted to her unborn son at a Tom Sawyer-themed baby shower over the weekend. "I'm so excited to have a son," the singer turned fashion designer told People, which obtained exclusive access to the event. "He got all these cute vintage cars and I got a lot of little leather jackets I can't wait to try out!" And that's fitting for mommy, who wore a curve-hugging bright blue dress and happens to be a "Fashion Star" mentor. PHOTOS: Hollywood baby boom The garden fete took place Sunday and was hosted by Simpson's sister Ashlee and mom Tina.

Fire swept through an apartment in Burtonsville, killing three girls and critically injuring their mother, authorities said. The victims, an infant and her 2- and 4-year-old sisters, were not breathing when firefighters arrived, Montgomery County Fire Department spokesman Pete Piringer said. Investigators believe the fire started in the kitchen after the woman placed a plastic device used to sterilize baby bottles near the stove, which was on, Piringer said. She then fell asleep.

A controversial, estrogen-like chemical in plastic could be harming the development of children's brains and reproductive organs, a federal health agency concluded in a report released Tuesday. The National Toxicology Program, part of the National Institutes of Health, concluded that there was "some concern" that fetuses, babies and children were in danger because bisphenol A, or BPA, harmed animals at low levels found in nearly all human bodies.

Less than half of the 280 million metric tons of plastic produced each year ends up in the landfill.  A fair bit of the rest ends up littering the landscape, blown by the wind or washed down streams and rivers into the sea. So far Americans spend $520 million a year to clean up plastic litter washing up on West Coast beaches and shorelines. Efforts to clean up the oceans' enormous swirling gyres of garbage has an incalculable cost. Thus, much of the focus has been on how to stop the river of trash from entering the ocean.

Connecticut's attorney general announced that six companies had stopped manufacturing baby bottles containing bisphenol-A, a chemical that some studies say may be harmful to infants. Attorneys general from Connecticut, Delaware and New Jersey sent letters in October to 11 companies asking them to end their use of the chemical. Avent America Inc., Disney First Years, Gerber, Dr. Brown's, Playtex Products Inc. and Evenflo Co. are voluntarily complying with the request, Connecticut Atty.

Government toxicologists have reiterated safety concerns about a chemical used in baby bottles and food containers, just weeks after the Food and Drug Administration declared the substance safe. A report by the National Toxicology Program said there was "some concern" that bisphenol A could cause developmental problems in the brain and hormonal systems of infants and children. The conclusion repeats initial findings issued in April. The group said bisphenol's risks to humans could not be ruled out but acknowledged that its concerns were based on animal studies.