Illinois’ lawmakers soon will be voting on a bill to ban a toxic chemical from containers used to store food and beverages for infants and other children.

Bisphenol-A, also known as BPA, is a chemical used in the production of a tough, lightweight and heat-resistant plastic used in automobiles, sports safety equipment, digital media products such as CDs and DVDs, food and drink containers, and other common products.

While earlier studies were mixed on the health effects caused by exposure to BPA, more recent studies conclude that younger children can suffer adverse health effects from exposure to even small levels of the chemical.

According to the Illinois Environmental Council, exposure to BPA leads to higher rates of asthma, diabetes, thyroid disease, altered brain development, and breast and prostate cancer.

The Child Safe Chemicals Act, as it’s known in the Illinois Senate (SB3750), and the BPA-Free Kids Act, as it’s known in the House (HB6088), would prohibit the sale or distribution of bisphenol-A from child food containers.

The legislation, which is supported by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency among a number of other agencies, would eliminate BPA from infant formula cans and baby food jars by 2015, and from baby bottles, water bottles and sippy cups by 2011.

Thankfully, there are many BPA-free food containers already on the market.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reversed a long-standing position that BPA was safe for children. The FDA, however, has been unable to regulate its use in products for children.

The city of Chicago, Canada, and a number of U.S. states, including Wisconsin and Minnesota, already have banned the chemical from children’s food containers.

It’s time for Illinois to follow suit.

We urge our state lawmakers to adopt this legislation.