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Toxic Nation Guide to Toxic Baby Bottles Toxic Nation Guide to Toxic Baby Bottles
The Guide to Toxic Baby Bottles
How to avoid bisphenol A
Bisphenol A is a hormone disruptor found in some 90-95 per cent of plastic baby bottles in Canada. Bisphenol A is used to make polycarbonate plastics — the clear or tinted, hard plastic used to make popular baby bottle brands and reusable water bottles, including some Nalgene bottles, as well as the lining of some food and drink containers and dental sealants.
Plastics containing bisphenol A are labeled with the #7 recycling symbol on the bottom of the bottle and/or the letters “PC” near the recycling triangle. Number 7 plastics are categorized as “other” and are include other plastics, not just polycarbonate.
You can minimize your child’s exposure to bisphenol A by taking the following steps:
- Use glass, or polypropylene bottles (#5 plastic) instead of polycarbonate (#7 plastic) bottles.
- If you continue to use polycarbonate bottles, do not use harsh detergents or put bottles in the dishwasher. These factors help to degrade the plastic and break-down the bonds to release bisphenol A. Instead, clean polycarbonate bottles with warm soapy water and a sponge.
- Avoid heating polycarbonate containers in the microwave; use glass or ceramic containers instead.
- Avoid using infant formula in cans that use bisphenol A as an epoxy liner. Take a look at the Environmental Working Group’s report on bisphenol A in infant formula to get helpful tips. ( http://www.ewg.org/reports/infantformula).
- Cut back on canned foods and beverages to reduce your family’s exposure to bisphenol A contamination from the inside lining of cans. Also, avoid canned foods that are highly acidic (eg. tomato sauce) or fatty (eg. fish in oil), as bisphenol A reacts to acids and lipids.
Sources of bisphenol A-Free Baby Bottles
Adiri- Makes a bisphenol A-free Natural Nurser bottle made of polypropylene.
BornFree- Baby products manufacturer BornFree only manufactures and sells baby bottles that are bisphenol A-, phthalate-, lead-, and PVC-free.
Evenflo - Makes glass bottles and its Comfort Select plastic line does not contain bisphenol A.
Klean Kanteen - Stainless steel interior and exterior. Comes with a sippy cup lid.
MAM - ‘Care’ bottles are bisphenol A-free, but other products are not. Available online.
Nurture Pure- all products are bisphenol A-free. Also available is a silicone glass bottle sleeve.
Thermos - Foogo line of sippy and straw cups. Stainless steel interior and exterior.
thinkbaby - all bottles and trainer cups are bisphenol A-free.
The list of companies is always growing and can change depending on where you live. Look for labels that read ‘Bisphenol A-Free’ or ‘BPA-Free.’
Ban Bisphenol A in food and drink containers
Canada’s federal government has announced a tentative designation for bisphenol A as ‘toxic’ under Canadian law. Canada is the first jurisdiction in the world to consider designating the chemical, bisphenol A, as hazardous to human health and the environment.
The government is expected to propose specific regulatory measures, but the process toward eliminating bisphenol A in consumer products is not over. That is why Environmental Defence is pressuring companies to stop producing bisphenol A in Canada and switch to safer alternatives. Companies like Bayer AG, and Dow Chemical Canada Co. will be hearing from us! It is only fair that we ensure that all children have the best opportunity to grow up to be safe and healthy.
The Ontario government has also set-up an expert panel to review toxic chemicals, including bisphenol A.
Support our campaign for action to ensure that all children have a safe and healthy life -www.toxicnation.ca. Back to Articles
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