Possible hazards of BPA in baby bottles
According to MAM Baby, a European baby products manufacturer, a lot of public attention and concern has recently been given to the issue of Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical found in polycarbonate baby bottles. Some scientific reports have suggested that the chemical has the ability to leach from clear plastic beverage containers when they are exposed to heat.
Recent action taken on the issue by the likes of Canada and eleven states in the US, who either proposed a ban or are currently investigating the chemical, has triggered this wave of concern. As a precautionary measure, Canadian branches of the world famous retail chain, Wal-Mart, have opted to remove all products containing Bisphenol A (BPA from their shelves with a view to stock only BPA-free products in its US stores from early 2009. The Canadian federal government has also declared Bisphenol A (BPA) a hazardous substance as of October 2008 and has placed it on its list of toxic substances.
Independent researchers in dozens of studies have linked trace BPA exposures in animal and test tube experiments to conditions involving hormone imbalances, including breast and prostate cancer, early puberty and changes in brain structure. Exposure during key points of foetal or early neonatal development appears particularly concerning.
London based Dr. Peter Weiss of ICMRA says about the chemical, “Although there is mixed evidence about the findings around BPA, we recommend that if people are bottle feeding their young children and are concerned, that they use a polypropylene-made bottle to alleviate any concerns they have.”
