Baby Bottles Are Toxic
Environmental health group is calling for an immediate ban on bisphenol A (BPA) in baby bottles and other plastic food containers. BPA is a synthetic hormone, similar in action to estrogen. It is commonly used to make hard plastic bottles and food containers.
According to the study sponsor, Work Group for Safe Markets, 95% of baby bottles sold in North America contain BPA, which is released upon heating of the container. Data indicates that baby bottles from brands, such as Avent, Evenflo, Dr. Brown’s and Disney/First Years, release BPA. Research for the study was done by Frederick vom Saal, PhD, at the University of Missouri - Columbia.
Authors of the report strongly suggest that parents switch baby bottles to safer ones, namely those not containing BPA. They also call for legislative action which would eliminate BPA from the market. (Reference www.chej.org)
What should the consumer do? Consumers should learn the facts presented by both sides and make their own educated decision based on that information. According to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) for bisphenol A is 50 mcg/kg. An amount which is 100 times higher than the potential exposure from daily use of plastic bottles containing BPA. (Reference www.bisphenol-a.org)
Do you think BPA should be banned? Or should more independent studies be performed?
Share your thoughts below…
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although an independent study would sound as the right choice, how do we know if it’s really INDEPENDENT??
I won;t use them… you can get non BPA bottlesd, then why take the risk
typical case of conflict of interest, on one side you have the producers, on the other special interest groups. I would suspect that no matter which way you look, the info will be skewed in one direction or the other.. but it may be best to remain on the safe side if such exists
I’LL PASS…
This is actually a very longstanding concern. Presenting this issue as a new “controversy” - with one pro and one con reference - makes it harder for readers to sort out the facts. Wikipedia tries to take a neutral approach: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A
One aspect that I’ve found telling - the claims to safety apply only to intact bottles and containers. BPA leaching increases dramatically after they have been damaged - by heat, scrubbing, harsh detergents, or other wear. Containers showing discoloration, e.g., “milky” stains, are supposed to be discarded. Since many consumers will continue to use these containers past the point of safety - perhaps they should be taken off the market.
Larry, interesting point about the “milky” stains, I wasn’t aware of that and I know exactly what you are talking about, as I have a couple of these damaged containers. I’ll toss them. Thanks for sharing that info with us!!
Bispenol-a has been widely researched for more than 70 years and it is very dangerous and not used in Europe because of its estrogenic activity. What you don’t know is its the building block of polycarbonate that infiltrates our medical life in many ways. Dental composite is made of chains of Bisphenol-a and yet people think and are told by dentists, that the material is safer and a better alternative to mercury amalgam. The reverse is unfortunately true and dealing with the persistent chemical turns out to be far more difficult in the long run. I personally asked the Reform health critic to investigate this in the 90’s and was told Mercury is a far bigger health issue and while this bisphenol-amay be an issue it was not on their screen.
Ban these products BPA from use in food consumtion products. A must, Other products used in non-stick frying pans must be baned Thanks
I read some interesting info on the plastic on the article and the comments. I heard years ago the plastic leached an estrogen type chemical. Now it is becoming common knowledge. I did not know about the dental composites link to this chemical. Just when you thought it was safe to get rid of the “silver fillings” that are mercury. I hope I did not poison my kids health with these things. Let me guess this is made in China…
It’s nothing but scaremongering by chemophobic professional environmental activists
my baby loves the taste of bph