Bisphenol-A and Plastic Baby Bottles

Those of us who are parents of young children know the importance of keeping the little ones away from harmful chemicals. We lock up our household cleaning products or place them in cabinets that are high enough so that the kids can't reach them. But new evidence suggests that we may be exposing our babies to another chemical hazard on a daily basis without even realizing it. Many plastic baby bottles may contain a compound called bisphenol A (BPA) which has been linked to several developmental and reproductive problems. Recently, the Los Angeles-based Environment California Research and Policy Center conducted tests of five popular brands of polycarbonate plastic bottles to determine if BPA migrates into foods and beverages dispensed in plastic containers that are made with BPA. The policy group's researchers found that baby bottles manufactured by Avent, Dr. Brown's, Evenflo, Gerber and Playtex all leached amounts of bisphenol A into baby food at levels which were found to cause damage in laboratory tests on animals. Bisphenol A has been linked to cancer, immune disorders, diabetes, precocious puberty, and hyperactivity.

Plastic infant bottles that are leaching compounds like BPA are likely to become sticky and display a certain cloudiness where formerly clearly transparent. Heating formula in the bottles or cleaning them with harsh dishwashing soaps and hot water is thought to hasten the degradation of the plastic and facilitate migration of BPA into the foods and beverages they hold. Placing highly acidic foods in contact with the plastic containers has also been linked to increased rates of structural breakdown and subsequent BPA leaching.

The type of plastic baby bottles that are most likely to contain BPA are polycarbonate bottles. These can usually be identified by looking at the bottoms of the containers and checking to see if the recycling code # 7 is present.

While the exact harm to humans has not yet been definitively determined, parents may want to use baby bottles and cups that are free of bisphenol A until further testing has been done. This is especially important, since these polycarbonate plastic bottles and cups will still release BPA into foods with repeated use, even if not heated or exposed to harsh soaps or acidic contents. Glass baby bottles are one safer alternative. Glass doesn't contain any harmful synthetic materials that would migrate into foodstuffs. Foods and beverages that need to be heated in microwave ovens should be removed from any plastic containers and placed in microwave-safe glass or ceramic containers.

These new findings add to concerns previously expressed in the scientific community about plastics being used in food containers or infant products. Other researchers have found that teething rings, used to ease the discomfort of infants' emerging teeth, and plastic "sippy cups" often contain phthalates, a plastic softener that has also been linked to a host of health problems through lab tests. Like bisphenol A, phthalates have been found to mimic the hormone estrogen and feminize male subjects in various studies on rodents. If this is enough to make you want to avoid such products, you should look for plastics that are clearly labeled as PVC-free or phthalate-free. And definitely avoid any plastic products that display a recycling code # 3 on the container or packaging.

Right now, the Food and Drug Administration has not outlawed the inclusion of BPA or phthalates in children's toys and feeding products. However, one local government has taken a rather bold step to protect kids from the harmful compounds. The Board of Supervisors for the city of San Francisco, CA has banned the use of bisphenol A in children's products intended for use by kids under the age of three.