DANGERS OF BPA PLASTICS TO YOU AND YOUR BABY

DANGERS OF BPA PLASTICS TO YOUR BABY

Plastic is convenient and used in much of our food storage and cooking, but may be costly to your health.

Some petroleum-based plastics leach harmful chemicals into your food and your drinks.  This is especially so,when the plastic is in contact with oily or fatty foods, during heating and microwaving, when exposed to excessive moisture,.or when harsh cleaners are used.

DANGERS OF PLASTIC IN BABY BOTTLES

Many parents have thrown out their plastic baby bottles over concerns about bilsphenol A, or BPA, an estrogen-like chemical used in polycarbonate plastic.

 

BILSPHENOL  A , (BPA), is a chemical produced in large quantities for us primarily in the production of poly carbonate plastics.  The chemical is most commonly found in water bottles, baby bottles, and the lining of many food, drink and baby formula cans.

BPA has been linked to endocrine disruption in babies, cancers, birth defects, and poor brain/nervous system development.  It  can impair brain function, leading to learning disabilities and age-related neurodegenerative disease. BPA has been shown to be an endocrine disruptor and simulate the action of estrogen.

 There is concern that the chemical alters development of the brain, behavior and the prostate gland in babies, both before and after birth.  This product could also be linked to health problems like prostate cancer, breast cancer, and the early on-set of puberty.

The Natural Resources Defense Council filed a petition about bisphenol A, or BPA,  In response, the chemical industry says the amount of BPA to which people are exposed every day is too small to pose harm.

Although the FDA has said that BPA doesn't pose a health hazard, another government agency, the National Toxicology Program, has concluded there is "some concern" that the hormone-like chemical may harm children and fetuses.  The Food and Drug Administration only singled out metal liquid formula cans as a significant source of exposure.

The degree to which Bilsphenol A (BPA) migrates from receptacles into liquid appears to depend more on the temperature of the liquid.  These plastics are typically clear and hard marked with the recycle symbol and the #7 inside or may contain the letters "PC" near the recycle symbol.

When parents prepare their infant's bottle, pour their toddler's juice, or make their family dinner with a can of soup or vegetables they shouldn't have to worry they are feeding their children dangerous chemicals.  The FDA must do its job and safeguard our food supply.   Canada has already declared BPA to be toxic and has announced plans to remove it from baby bottles.

Bottle makers have recently begun offering BPA-free alternatives -- and prominently labeling them.  Other alternatives might be non plastic water bottles, wave water bottles, or old fashioned breast milk.

         Sources; The National Toxicology Program Source, The  Natural Resources Defense Council

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