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Keep Your Children Away From Toxic
Baby Bottles Still Being Sold In Stores
Products marketed for infants and children
are not always completely safe for their use. Many contain toxic
chemicals that may have detrimental health impacts for children
exposed during critical stages of development.
This report by the U.S. Research and Policy Center summarizes
an analysis of the extent to which five popular brands of baby
bottles leach bisphenol A, a developmental, neural, and reproductive
toxicant, into liquids coming into contact with them. All
five brands leach bisphenol A at dangerous levels found to cause
harm in numerous laboratory animal studies.
Government should reform chemical policy to ensure that all products
on the market are safe for children.
Bisphenol A is a Developmental, Neural, and Reproductive
Toxicant
- Scientists have linked very low doses of bisphenol A exposure
to cancers, impaired immune function, early onset of puberty,
obesity, diabetes, and hyperactivity, among other problems.
- For example, in one recent study, a single, low dose of bisphenol
A administered to a newborn rat resulted in hyperactive behavior.
Exposure to Bisphenol A is Widespread
- Bisphenol A is most commonly used to make clear polycarbonate
plastic for consumer products, such as baby bottles. Through
use, this plastic breaks down and leaches bisphenol A into liquids
and food to which it comes into contact.
- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found
bisphenol A in the urine of over 95% of people they tested.
- Alarmingly, the median level of bisphenol A in humans is higher
than the level that causes adverse effects in animal studies.
Popular Baby Bottles Sold in California
Leach Bisphenol A at Harmful Levels
- Based on a consumer survey of the most popular baby bottle
brands on the market, we selected five bottle types to determine
the amount of leaching from each bottle. We found that the bottles
tested from all five brands leached bisphenol A at levels found
to cause harm in numerous laboratory studies, including:
• Avent
• Dr. Brown’s
• Evenflo
• Gerber
• Playtex
Recommendations for Parents
Parents have the right to know about chemicals
in the products they purchase for their children. In the absence
of good government regulations, but armed with the knowledge that
some chemicals are a cause for concern, parents can take a few
simple actions to limit their child’s exposure to these
and other toxic chemicals.
At the store, parents should select baby bottles
that are made from glass or a safer non-polycarbonate plastic.
At home, parents should avoid washing plastic dishware with harsh
dishwashing soap and hot water, which may allow chemicals to leach
out of the plastic.
Recommendations for Policymakers
Parents cannot deal with these issues alone.
The government must ensure the safety of all products on the market
for children. Governments must:
Phase Out Hazardous Chemicals
Based on the weight of the scientific evidence
showing the harm caused by exposure to bisphenol A, the government
should act now. Given that data from the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention show that bisphenol A is present in humans
at levels found to be harmful in laboratory studies, the use of
bisphenol A should be phased out, especially in products used
by children.
Inform Consumers about the Presence of
Dangerous Chemicals
Parents currently have little information to
inform their decisions when purchasing products for their family.
Manufacturers should be required to label children’s products
with the name of any potentially dangerous chemical and the specific
health risks associated with the chemical.
Reform Chemicals Policy
Currently, manufacturers can put chemicals on the market without
proving they are safe. Chemical manufacturers should be required
to provide all hazard and health-effects information to the government
so agencies can begin to assess the thousands of chemicals currently
on the market for which little or inadequate data are available.
Next, pre-market hazard and health-effects testing should be required
for all new chemicals before they are introduced into commerce.
Finally, the Environmental Protection Agencies must have the authority
to protect public health by banning or restricting the use of
a chemical if evidence shows that it can harm human health.
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