Bisphenol-A (BPA) became a hot topic in 2008 when the National Toxicology Program agreed that ingesting BPA can cause physical changes in people. Until recently, most plastic baby bottles contained BPA, so it has become a priority to learn if, and how, BPA can effect infants who drink from bottles containing the substance.
History
BPA is a chemical compound that was first used in plastics back in 1953. Over two billion pounds of BPA are produced every year in the U.S. It's then used to make thousands of common products such as water bottles, food containers and baby bottles, for example.
BPA Exposure
A 2008 Harvard study using college-age subjects found that after one week of drinking cold liquids from plastic bottles, BPA levels in their bodies increased over two-thirds. Babies, on the other hand, are more sensitive to BPA and have a more difficult time processing and excreting BPA than do adults. And warm liquids--such as heated milk or formula--cause BPA to leach from the plastic much faster. That's why when the FDA estimated, also in 2008, that babies were exposed to 12 1/2 times more BPA than adults, alarm bells sounded.
Cancer Risk
The National Childbirth Trust says the evidence linking BPA to breast cancer and other health conditions is compelling. And according to the Breast Cancer Fund, research suggests that BPA exposure may exacerbate the current breast cancer epidemic. The same research found that experiments on animals showed that prenatal and infant exposure to very low levels of BPA can alter mammary gland development in ways that "predispose the animals to cancer in adult life." British toxicologists came to the same conclusion, according to Breast Cancer UK.
A 2008 study published in Scientific American concurs. Fetal and developing rats and mice exposed to BPA are more likely to display brain abnormalities and to develop cancer later in life.
Other Health Risks
Tufts University in England showed BPA had effects on breast, prostate and testicular development even at doses much lower than those permitted under current guidelines. The National Toxicology Program says there is "some" concern regarding neural and behavioral effects in fetuses, infants and children from BPA exposure.
Avoiding BPA
According to the National Institutes of Health, as of January 2009, it's estimated that about 90 percent of baby bottles currently on the market are BPA-free. But you should always check before buying. There are lists available to help you determine which bottles are BPA-free. If your bottles aren't on the list, investigate the product with the manufacturer. Also, if the recycling number on the bottom of the bottle is a 7, it most likely contains BPA and should be discarded. Try using glass, polyethylene or polypropylene bottles. They will have recycling numbers of 1, 2, 4 or 5.
If you are using plastic bottles, never heat them in the microwave, especially if you think they may contain BPA. When heated, higher levels of the chemical are released. Microwave in glass or ceramic only.
