If you’re concerned about what your baby sticks in his mouth, add his bottle to the
list.
That’s the message behind the Child-Safe Chemicals Act, a proposed Illinois law that
would outlaw baby bottles, sippy cups and any other children’s food containers that contain the chemical bisphenol-A.
BPA is found in polycarbonate plastic, used to manufacture baby and water
bottles, DVDs and electronics, and epoxy resins, used to coat the inside of
food and beverage cans.
Max Muller, program director of Environment Illinois, says studies have shown
that BPA mimics estrogen and can disrupt human development. Everyone comes into
contact with the chemical, he explains, but infants are more susceptible to BPA
and its effects.
“Ninety-five percent of baby bottles on the market are made with this,” Muller says. “Children’s daily exposure to BPA is up to 20 times higher than most adults, in part
because such a large portion of their food comes from containers made with BPA.”
Sunoco, a major gas and chemical manufacturer, announced earlier this month that
it would no longer sell BPA to companies that use the chemical to make food and
water containers for children under 3 years old. Six major manufacturers,
including Playtex Products, Gerber, and Evenflow, and national retailers like
Wal-mart and Babies “R” Us have also decided to stop the sale and distribution of baby products
containing BPA.
This article appears in Mar 26 – Apr 1, 2009.
