BPA Voluntarily Banned From Baby Bottles

March 9, 2009

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

The six largest makers of baby bottles will stop manufacturing baby bottles in the United States made with bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical widely used in plastics but increasingly linked to a range of health problems, reports the Washington Post. In addition, several retailers, including Babies R Us, told suppliers they would no longer stock baby bottles made with the chemical, cites the newspaper.

These manufacturers, including Philips Avent, made their decisions after several attorney generals in Connecticut and New Jersey wrote to the bottle makers and asked them to voluntarily stop using the chemical, reports the Washington Post. Public health advocates say it poses a particular danger to fetuses, infants and children because BPA can interfere with cell function when their bodies are still developing, cites the newspaper.

Over the past decade, more than 130 studies have linked BPA to breast cancer, obesity and other disorders, reports the Washington Post. For example, JAMA reported in September 2008 that a study of BPA in humans found adults with higher levels of bisphenol A is associated with cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and liver-enzyme abnormalities.

New research suggests that BPA has an effect at very low doses – lower than the current safety standard set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), reports the Washington Post. One key finding by the National Toxicology Program, part of the National Institutes of Health, reported last year that there is “some concern” BPA may affect the brain and behavioral development of fetuses, infants and young children, cites the newspaper.

In August 2008, the FDA asserted that BPA was safe, and found “no reason to recommend that consumers stop using products that contain BPA while the agency carries out its assessment process.” In October 2008, the FDA agreed that due to the uncertainties raised in some studies relating to the potential effects of low dose exposure to bisphenol A, additional research would be valuable, and is moving ahead with planned research.

Similarly, Canada will spend $1.7 million over the next three years to study the effects of BPA, reports GreenBiz.com. The Web site says Canada was the first country to ban BPA, which has been linked to a host of developmental and health problems in laboratory studies.

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Advertisers

Make sustainability part of your strategy.

Get equipped at the SAP Sustainability Resource Center. >>

Unclear about the EPA's new GHG Rule?

Learn how it could affect your business. >>

EPA mandatory emissions reporting starts Jan 1st

CSA Standards can help your organization get ready for compliance. Find out how. >>

Survey Results: Product Environmental Compliance Best Practices

How to achieve compliance at a significantly lower cost. Download the full report. >>

Join the Discussion

Reader Comments

another issue sg needs to straighten out.fda has hurt america. more than 1 yr ago the british investigated
bpa and it was not covered in america.bpa gives male babies larger balls testicals and harms babies.and over 1k lobbyists from america went over to britian to lobby the british.america has no reason to tell other countries what to regulate.so the question is where the hell is the sustainability officer for all these american companies?as i previously stated the day of accountability is now here are you listening warren hatch?

sustainable guy | March 9th, 2009

Recent Daily News [ see all ]

11/20/2009
11/19/2009
11/18/2009

Charts [ see all ]

European Paper Industry Cuts CO2 Emissions by 42% since 1990

S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks

Nike Tops Annual Climate Action Scores

Oceans May Trap more Carbon than Forests

Jobs

View All Jobs >> Post a Job >>

Comments and Discussions

Trade Association on Trade Group on EPA Chemical Regs: ‘If Everything is a Priority, Then Nothing is a Priority’
"Seriously… that..."

Gary Markowitz on Supermarkets Tackle Emissions Reductions, Fuel Efficiency
"Supermarkets waste over 10 percent of their energy through improper..."

peter in ireland on Ontario May Follow California’s Lead on TV Energy Efficiency
"Governor Schwarzenegger is shooting himself in the foot! 1...."

Environmental Leader on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"The survey respondents (the PDF report mentions 4,000 respondents in 38..."

Jake on UPS Trying New Hydraulic Hybrid Trucks
"A point of clarification: the Reuters press release referenced herein reports that 20 UPS will purchase..."

Custom Organic Shirts on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"90% of North Americans believe it is urgent to get a global climate..."

peter dublin on California City’s Green Building Ordinance Applies to Commercial Buildings
"Why energy efficiebnt regulation on buildings –..."

Environmental Leader