Smiley Baby

Toxic baby bottles still a danger in the UK

Filed under: Baby items — Alan @ 2:06 am

Scientists are criticizing the Government for failing to take action on a chemical that has been banned in other countries for its toxic implications that is commonly used to manufacture baby bottles.

Denmark was the first country in Europe to ban the use of bisphenol, known commonly as BPA, in any container that is designed for use by young children amidst growing proof that the chemical can cause serious health problems and may slow brain development of children.

Although many mainstream baby bottle companies have already started producing BPA-free product lines, a new investigation this week found that high street retailers Mothercare and Boots are still selling older BPA contaminated bottles to the public.

Mothercare plans to continue selling the old line through the beginning of August while Boots plans to phase the BPA bottles out over the next few weeks.

The British Government has discarded the idea of banning BPA and continues to maintain that BPA is not a threat to health.  The stance is in direct opposition to many Western Governments who have issued temporary bans until there is clearer evidence stating otherwise.

France has backed a temporary ban and three US states and Canada have forbidden the use of BPA in baby products.

The FDA in America reversed its stance in January stating that steps should be taken to minimize the amount of exposure citizens have to BPA after years of also stating that the chemical is not a health risk.  The EPA, the second largest health body in the US, also announced that it will investigate the effect of BPA on the environment.

Disturbing news about chemical in baby bottles

Filed under: Baby public health — Alan @ 1:20 am

According to a new research study by HealthDay girls who are exposed to the chemical bisphenol A or BPA while they are babies or little children are more likely to be hyperactive and aggressive, compared to those who are not exposed.

The study included 249 babies and children, out of which, 99% of them tested positive at least once, with BPA levels in their urine. Parents of these children were then asked to fill out a questionnaire when the girls turned two.

After the data was compiled it was split by sex, which allowed researchers to see that hyperactivity and aggression was present in the females over the males.

Author of the study, Joe Braun a grad student at Chapel Hill University of North Carolina, said that now that they have the information, the next step is to watch the girls to see if the same behavioural patterns continue to exhibit themselves over time as the girls grow.

In particular he pointed to ages five thru seven, when behavioural patterns tend to settle down and denote how the child will behave in the future.

BPA is a common chemical that is often found in canned foods, food containers, water bottles, medical devices, and most importantly in infant bottles.

Most exposure to BPA is from BPA that leaks into drinks and foods that are stored in containers manufactured with BPA from repeated use of degrading plastic.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the US estimate that 93% of people have detectable levels of the chemical in their urine.