Safety of Plastic Baby Bottles
Bisephenol A Common in Items Used in Feeding Babies and Children
Recent study finds potentially harmful byproduct of polycarbonate plastic, bisephenol A, can cause lifelong problems for babies fed from bottles made of this material.
A recent study showing the possible harmful effects of polycarbonate plastic, a hard plastic used to make several common and widely used plastic baby bottles, has called into question the safety of using this type of plastic to feed babies and children and has parents scrambling to find alternatives to this potentially damaging material to protect their children.
Findings from the study released in February 2008 done by a group of North American environmental and health agencies and presented by The Work Group for Safe Markets showed 19 polycarbonate plastic bottles released a potentially harmful compound used to make this type of plastic called bisephenol A (BPA) into the fluid contained inside when the bottle was heated to 175 degrees F. Many of the popular brands of baby bottles found in stores throughout the US were shown to leach BPA and making matters worse, the report also showed that the problem is worse with fatty substances like milk or acidic drinks like apple juice, both very common beverages served up in a bottle.
Risks of Bisephenol A
This information isn’t really news - reports have found levels of bisephenol A seeping out of heated bottles dating back to 1999. What most of these studies show is that at low levels, bisephenol A creates an effect that imitates what estrogen does in the body. These false hormone levels can cause lifelong problems such as breast or prostate cancer, infertility, or early puberty. Many parents and critics insist that any potential health problem for baby is too big a risk to take and these bottles should not be used, especially since there are alternatives available. The FDA continues to say that the levels being leached are still well below dangerous levels and the bottles are safe to use.
Alternatives to Polycarbonate Baby Bottles
Parents need to know what their options are since alternatives to this type of plastic are becoming more widely available since the recent study came out. While not always available on the shelves of large retailers, the Internet gives parents who don’t want to take the risk of exposing their babies and children to BPA the opportunity to seek out safer plastic bottles and sippy cups, as well as glass bottles. Natural parenting stores, small and large, bring products right to your door that parents otherwise might not have access to and are great places to find safe solutions to baby’s feeding needs.
Several of the popular brands like Dr. Brown’s have recently introduced glass bottles and safe plastic bottles that are BPA free in their regular lines to give parents with children who might be particular about bottles or nipples more regularly available alternatives.
