A typical night in millions of homes across the country goes a little like this: you wake up to the sound of hungry baby cries, then stumble to the fridge to pull out a bottle for your baby. You heat the liquid inside and head to the nursery. If you are using a plastic bottle, you're probably of the mind that they are the safest choice; unbreakable and lighter in weight than glass bottles, it seems obvious. Think again.
A new study performed by Los Angeles-based Environment California reveals that the very plastic bottles we find so convenient may actually be leaching hazardous chemicals such as bisphenol-A, lead and certain pthalates into the liquids they hold. Studies with similar results were performed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Consumers Union (publishers of Consumer Reports magazine) and researchers at Nagasaki University in Japan.
Plastic baby bottles are typically manufactured using polycarbonate, a material that is very easily molded and nearly unbreakable. But when liquids are heated inside these bottles, the polycarbonate releases the toxic bisphenol-A (BPA), which mixes with the formula or breast milk and is then ingested by the baby.
BPA exposure has been linked to cancer, impaired immune function, early onset puberty, obesity, diabetes and hyperactivity.
Other bottles may be manufactured with polyvinyl chloride, which we know as vinyl or PVC. From a health standpoint, PVC is the most toxic plastic on the market. It can contain lead, ingestion of which can lead to learning disabilities, IQ deficiencies and behavior problems, among other things. Soft PVC, used in the manufacturing of nipples, pacifiers and teethers contains phthalates, which cause many of the same problems as BPA.
The study performed by Environment California found potentially harmful levels of BPA in the five bottle brands they tested:
• Avent
• Dr. Brown’s
• Evenflo
• Gerber
• Playtex
Scientists and consumer advocates alike recommend that parents choose baby bottles that are made either of glass or a non-polycarbonate plastic. The polycarbonate bottles are generally clear and rigid, and may have the recycling symbol 7 marked on the bottom. If you are unsure about the bottle, call the manufacturer or talk to your pediatrician.
In response to these studies, the Juvenile Products Manufacturers’ Association (JPMA) has issued the following statement:
JPMA Response:
The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association stands by the scientific research indicating that plastic baby bottles are safe.
Sound and respected scientific research has consistently shown there is no danger to consumers when products are used as intended. Trace levels of bisphenol-A from consumer products are well below any level that could cause harm to adults or to our children. Other scientific studies have shown that BPA has no effect on the reproductive system, no effect on the developmental system and no carcinogenic (cancer-causing) effects. Recent reports indicating otherwise are both sensational and biased, and they have not received any validation from the scientific community.
Found in a wide variety of products, lightweight and shatter-resistant polycarbonate plastic has been the material of choice in baby bottles for 25 years. The potential for exposure to bisphenol-A from bottles has been extensively examined and the results reviewed by government bodies worldwide that have responsibility for assessing the safety of consumer products. The scientists who conducted these safety studies on BPA come from across the globe, and include scientists from: the U.S. National Academy of Science, the U.S. National Toxicology Program, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Food and Drug Administration, the European Commission Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the Japanese National Institute of Health Sciences.
The data released at the California State Capitol was misleading and needlessly frightening to consumers. There is significant data available on the safety of BPA. From baby bottles and food packaging, to bicycle helmets and eyeglass lenses, as well as incubators and components of many life-saving medical devices, polycarbonate plastic makes everyday lives better and safer.
JPMA encourages parents to contact the bottle manufacturer if they have a question or concern. Most of the manufacturers have toll-free numbers and many have information posted on their Web sites.
For more information on BPA in juvenile products, visit:
CoalitionForConsumerChoice.org
bisphenol-A.org
stats.org
acsh.org
To purchase BPA free bottles, visti Baby Universe.
ePregnancy recommends contacting your baby bottle manufacturer directly, as well as reading information on both sides of the issue, to make your own informed decision. The bottle makers named in the Environment California study are listed below, and you can easily locate phone numbers and other contact information for your bottles on the bottle's packaging or company website.
Avent
Avent.com
(800) 54-AVENT (542-8368)
Dr. Brown's
DrBrowns.com
(800) 778-9001
Evenflo
Evenflo.com
(800) 233-5921
Gerber
Gerber.com
(800) 4-GERBER
Playtex
Playtex.com
(888) 310-4290
If you would like to read the results of the Consumer Reports study, click here.
The official report from Environment California can be found here.
c. 2007, ePregnancy.com