Bisphenol A (BPA) is a manmade, industrial chemical compound used to make a hard, clear plastic known as polycarbonate, which is used in many consumer products, including reusable water bottles and baby bottles. BPA is also found in epoxy resins, which act as a protective lining on the inside of metal-based food and beverage cans.
Canada is the first country in the world to crack down on BPA, and has declared the substance toxic. Ottawa intends to ban plastic baby bottles made with BPA.
Preliminary research says the general public should not be concerned. In general, most Canadians are exposed to very low levels of BPA and it does not pose a significant health risk. The Government of Canada is focusing on the health of newborns and infants under 18 months, since high levels of BPA could affect the health of babies.
Studies have shown most babies are exposed to BPA when it leaches out of the lining of cans into liquid infant formula. The Government of Canada now is working with infant formula manufacturers to reduce levels of BPA in the lining of infant formula cans, and encouraging the development of alternatives.
The Government of Canada has this advice for parents still using polycarbonate baby bottles:
• Don’t put boiling water in them, as very hot water causes BPA to leach out of the bottle at a much higher rate.
• Water should be boiled and allowed to cool to lukewarm in a non-polycarbonate container before transferring to baby bottles. This advice is consistent with proper instructions for the preparation of infant formula. These bottles can be sterilized according to instructions on infant formula labels and can be cleaned in the dishwasher. They should be left to cool to room temperature before adding the infant formula.
Get daily National news
• Baby bottles should not be heated in the microwave as the liquid may heat unevenly and can cause burns to your infant.
If you are not sure whether your bottles are polycarbonate, check to see if the bottom of the bottle has the number 7 in the centre of the recycling symbol. Although the number 7 is a broad category, you can only be sure it is polycarbonate if the number 7 also has a PC beside it. In other words, not all recycling symbol #7 containers are made with BPA. If the bottle does not have a recycling symbol, there is no certain means of identifying whether it is made from polycarbonate or not.
Several retailers, including The Bay, Canadian Tire, Wal-Mart, Mountain Equipment Co-op, Sears, Rexall Pharmacies, Lululemon, Shoppers Drug Mart, and London Drugs have already stopped selling bottles containing BPA.
Toys R Us is allowing parents to return new or used baby bottles to its stores. Click here to watch our story with more information.
Environmental Defence also says Canadian dentists shouldn’t be using fillings or sealants containing BPA.
Dental sealants and white fillings no longer contain mercury, but some do contain small amounts of BPA. Pediatric dentists say the amount of BPA used in children’s mouths is too small to cause a problem, but the Canadian Dental Association is advising members to start searching for BPA-free dental materials.
LINKS IN THE NEWS:
Government of Canada: http://www.chemicalsubstanceschimiques.gc.ca/challenge-defi/bisphenol-a_fs-fr_e.html
Environmental Defence Canada: http://www.environmentaldefence.ca/toxicnation/action/bisphenolfaq.htm
Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy – A List of What the Plastic Recycling Symbols Mean and Additional Advice: http://www.iatp.org/iatp/publications.cfm?accountID=421&refID=102202
GLOBAL EDMONTON VIDEOS:
Bottle returns
Fri, Apr 25 – A major retailer is coming to the rescue of new parents with plastic baby bottles. Trouble Shooter Julie Matthews explains.
Click here to watch this video.
No way to BPA
Fri, Apr 18 – Canadians have ingested it for decades, but a controversial chemical found in plastics is about to be banned by Ottawa. Edmonton’s Trouble Shooter Julie Matthews reports.
Click here to watch this video.
No chemical romance
Thu, Apr 17 – With all the concerns about chemicals in plastics, Global Calgary’s Tony Tighe has advice on using plastic containers safely.
Click here to watch this video.
More plastic opposition
Wed, Apr 16 – Another retailer has now removed some plastic products from its shelves.
Click here to watch this video.
Message in a bottle
Tue, Apr 15 – Ottawa is getting ready to declare that a substance found in every Canadian household is toxic. Su-Ling Goh reports.
Click here to watch this video.
Sources: Government of Canada, Environmental Defence of Canada
© Updated May 5, 2008: Global News Edmonton
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.