BPA and Your Baby

What is Bisphenol A?

Bisphenol A, or BPA, is a key element in the making of polycarbonate plastics. These plastics are commonly used to make baby products because it is a virtually shatter proof material. A report made in 2008 by American and Canadian environmental researchers, called “Baby’s Toxic Bottle” discovered that baby bottles that are made with polycarbonate plastic emit dangerous levels of BPA that is absorbed by the substance contained within the plastic especially when heated.

What products contain BPA?

Any container that is made using polycarbonate plastics and food and beverage cans. Polycarbonate plastics are most commonly used in the making of baby bottles and Sippy cups. This is because they are virtually shatter proof. Meaning if you drop a bottle made of polycarbonate plastic it is less likely to break. Bisphenol A is also used to make a resin material which is used to line metal containers such as soda cans and canned foods. This resin material helps prevent the metal from rusting.

What are the dangers of BPA?

In several studies using rats, researchers have found that BPA and other phthalates can affect our bodies, especially in babies. Because a baby’s body is quickly developing these chemicals can alter the way they develop and grow. BPA and other phthalates can cause

• Problems with male reproductive organs
• Changes in reproductive hormones
• Increased allergies
• Runny nose
• Eczema
• Behavioral changes in babies
• Contribute to early onset of puberty in girls
• In men, phthalates are associated with changes in sperm quality.

Bisphenol A may cause changes the cells in:

• Breasts
• The uterus
• The prostate

Pregnant women should avoid BPA and phthalates because they can cause

• Birth defects
• Neonatal mortality (the death rate during the first 28 days of life)

These effects can also increase the risk of cancers. Also BPA has been linked to the increase in developmental disorders of the nervous system and the brain in animals. Some of these developmental disorders are similar to problems like ADHD (attention deficit hyper-reactivity disorder) in people.

How can I avoid BPA?

You can avoid BPA fairly easily. The best option is to avoid plastics completely and use Glass is the best option. However this option can be somewhat hard to take. So when you must use plastic here are some ways you can avoid BPA:

• Do not microwave food or beverages in plastic
• Do not microwave or heat plastic cling wraps
• Do not put plastics in the dishwasher
• If you are using a hard polycarbonate plastic (water bottles, baby bottles, Sippy cups) do not use it for warm or hot liquids or substances
• Use a safe alternative like glass or polyethylene plastic
• Try to avoid canned food. (BPA can be used in can linings)
• Look for labels that say “phthalate-free” or “BPA-free”

Where can I find BPA and phthalates free baby products?

Products that are BPA free are really not that hard to find, especially since packaging for BPA free items tends to be very well marked. The best option would be to look at your local organic store, such as Whole Foods Market or Sprouts. However, you can find them in your local stores like Wal-Mart, Target or Babies R US. There are also many online resources:

Born Free

www.BornFree.com

Baby Earth

www.babyearth.com

Trees and Tots

www.treesandtots.com

Happy Green Baby

www.happygreenbaby.com