Study of Chemical in Plastic Bottles Raises Alarm
By Deborah Kotz
Posted April 16, 2008

Bisphenol A (BPA), a compound in hard, clear polycarbonate plastics, is getting official scrutiny—and things are looking less than rosy for the controversial chemical. The U.S. government's National Toxicology Program yesterday agreed with a scientific panel that recently expressed concern about physiological changes that occur in people when they ingest BPA that has leached from plastics into their food. The Canadian government is even considering declaring the chemical toxic, reports today's New York Times. This could set the stage for banning it from plastic baby bottles, water bottles, and food containers. At the very least, some people will be even more eager to buy foods and beverages in BPA-free containers.

BPA has raised concerns because it appears to mimic the effects of estrogen, interfering with hormone levels and cell signaling systems. Previous studies have shown that people exposed to high levels of BPA have a greater risk of developing uterine fibroids, breast cancer, decreased sperm counts, and prostate cancer. Babies and children are thought to be at greatest risk from the exposure. In fact, the scientific evidence warrants "a higher level of concern than those expressed by the expert [scientific] panel for possible effects of bisphenol A on prostate gland, mammary gland and early onset of puberty in exposed fetuses, infants and children," the NTP report concludes.

Not surprisingly, sales of BPA-free baby bottles spiked after yesterday's news. "We tripled our sales overnight on the website and will be shipping an additional 300,000 bottles to Canada this week to meet an increased demand," says Ron Vigdor, president of BornFree, which manufactures BPA-free bottles. He adds that Babies "R" Us also indicated that it would be increasing its order to U.S. stores.

Beyond switching baby bottles, another way to lower exposure to BPA is to avoid heating foods and liquids in plastic containers that contain the compound. The amount of BPA that leaches out, the NTP says, may depend more on the temperature of the liquid, food, or container itself than on the age of the plastic bottle or dish.

I'm in menopause, where the heck can i find these bottles?

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"It's normal for these things to empty your wallet and break your heart in the process."
2012 SLK 350
1987 420 SEL

I have been refilling plastic bottles for years, screw it I'm cheap. NFW am I paying $1 for a bottle of water when I can do that once and refill it many times.

I'm pretty sure the drinking will kill me before plastic does.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I've had a feeling this was the case for some time. Someone also claimed there was also formaldehyde leeching into milk from plastic milk jugs.

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Brian Rogers
'96 E320 traded in at 292,000 miles
'09 C350

It's an estrogen emulator: Reuse plastic bottles, grow boobies.

Think it has any connection with increasingly early onset menstruation in girls, increasing feminization of boys and increasing androgyny in wild animals?

B

Yah - we've been using Sigg water bottles and Kleen Kanteen's for the kids (stainless steel). When we did have to use a bottle for the babies - they were usually glass. Having said that, the breast milk was stored/frozen in plastic storage bags?

Scary stuff though. I remember reading something in Time magazine last year....where they tested a whole bunch of toys and like half of them had traces of BPA in them.

Melissa and Doug (brand) make some good wood toys as alternatives.

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1981 240d - 135k - Arlene

I wonder if this would have any effect on the rise in breast cancer as well?

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"It's normal for these things to empty your wallet and break your heart in the process."
2012 SLK 350
1987 420 SEL

Or maybe moobs.

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You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows - Robert A. Zimmerman

In other news, Bro sales are way up...

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Brian Rogers
'96 E320 traded in at 292,000 miles
'09 C350

I think you're onto something: Last week I saw a rather fey-looking raccoon sipping out of a plastic Snapple botle.

Let me know when the raccoon starts redecorating.

Beaver....Bot is into fey-looking beavers, but close enough.

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1981 240d - 135k - Arlene