BPA Tips
If there's any doubt in your mind about the harmful effects of BPA, or Bisphenol-A, in your baby's bottle, consider this:
- Health authorities in Canada banned the use of BPA in bottles, citing the high risk for newborns and young infants. The move by Canada, the first country to take such action, has put pressure on U.S. federal regulators to re-examine their position on the chemical, and has prompted some legislators to consider taking action.
- Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, has banned baby bottles that contain the chemical from its Canadian and U.S. stores. These products will no longer be available on shelves starting next year. More retail chains are expected to follow suit.
What exactly is BPA? Bisphenol-A is an industrial chemical that is used to make products including polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins. Polycarbonate plastic is a tough, lightweight and clear form of plastic that has high resistance to heat. Epoxy resins are used in products such as protective liners in metal cans for food and beverages.
The actual health risks of BPA are somewhat under debate. A 12-member panel from the National Institute of Health's Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction last year said they had "negligible" concerns that BPA can cause human reproductive disorders, such as fibroids, endometrisis, cystic ovaries and cancers.
But one year later, a study in the journal Cancer Research that was published by researchers in California said that many genes in non-cancerous breast cells exposed to trace amounts of BPA began behaving in a way that closely resembled the gene activity in highly aggressive breast tumors. This may increase the possibility that women would die of the disease.
Here are the main concerns for moms: Studies have shown that infant exposure to BPA may cause disorders, including the early onset of puberty; changes in hormones including decreased testosterone; increased prostate size; and behavioral effects such as hyperactivity or impaired learning. We know that most, if not all, of us have been exposed. The Centers for Disease Control found the presence of BPA in 95 percent of people they tested.
So if you're a mom with a young infant, what can you do to help reduce your little one's exposure to this controversial chemical?
Start with bottles that aren't made with BPA plastics. Some brands that claim not to have BPA in them include:
- Born Free Baby Bottles
- Medela Baby Bottles
- Green to Grow Baby Bottles
- Dr. Brown's Natural Flow Standard Glass Bottles
- Evenflo Classic Glass Nurser Bottle
- Gerber Clear View and Fashion Tints Nursers
- Adiri Bottles
If you have plastic bottles lying around the house, take a look at their recycling code, which is typically found on the bottom of a container inside a triangle. If you see the number "7," the bottle has BPA.
Look at the condition of your bottles. If they're worn, or scratched, throw them out. Older plastic products tend to leach chemicals. And avoid micro-waving plastic bottles or serving/storing hot liquids in them. Heating plastics can result in leaching as well.
And remember: If you're pregnant or nursing, BPA chemicals can be passed through your bloodstream directly to your baby. So take care of yourself, just as you would your child.
*Source: www.mylittlepakora.com
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