Bisphenol A (BPA) is commonly found in many types of plastic bottles, canned drinks and canned foods, yet concerns about the controversial chemical are mounting. In October 2008, Canada banned the import and sale of baby bottles containing BPA. America is expected to soon follow with similar rulings.
Chicago City Council voted on May 13th to ban BPA in baby bottles and sippy cups, along with a similar ban by Minnesota a week ago, and Suffolk County (New York) earlier this year. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not called for a ban and states that small dosages are acceptable.
In a recent Harvard University and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study, Harvard students drank cold beverages from BPA polycarbonate baby bottles in a weeklong test, and the study found that they had a 70% rise in trace plastic chemicals and synthetic estrogen in their urine levels. These can cause cancer and reproductive system damage.
“These astonishing results should be a clarion call to lawmakers and public health officials that babies are being exposed to BPA, and at levels that could likely have an impact on their development,” said Renee Sharp, Director of Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) California office, in an online statement.
According to March 2007 EWG study, BPA lined containers contaminated more than 50% of canned foods, beverages, and canned liquid infant formula in a random sample. In lab tests, BPA has shown to cause cardiovascular damage, diabetes, and obesity.
California and Connecticut may also ban BPA while Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal announced that Avent, Disney First Years, Gerber, Dr. Brown, Playtex and Evenflow will voluntarily stop using BPA baby bottles in the U.S. market according to the EWG. Wal-Mart and Toys R’ Us will also stop selling BPA baby bottles. Bottle manufacturer Nalgene and several baby bottle makers are removing BPA from their products. Sunoco has said it will not provide BPA to manufacturers for use in products for children under the age of three.
Visit: http://www.ewg.org/
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