A D.C. lawmaker is calling for a ban on more than a dozen chemicals that some experts have deemed dangerous for children and others but are standard in many household products.

D.C. Council member Mary Cheh introduced legislation Wednesday that would ban food or drink containers for children that contain the chemical BPA, which is used to harden plastics. Some studies have shown the chemical poses a health risk for young children.

Cheh also is calling for a ban on mattresses and furniture containing polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDEs. That chemical is used as a flame retardant but could pose health problems for firefighters.

The American Chemistry Council in Arlington says regulatory agencies around the world have determined chemicals such as BPA are safe.

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Information from: The Washington Examiner, http://www.examiner.com