Endocrine Disruptors III: Bisphenol A and Babies

By Kathryn Au

Parents are becoming increasingly concerned over the presence of the chemical bisphenol A in baby products. Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine disruptor—it imitates the hormone estrogen and throws the endocrine system off balance, affecting the development of reproductive organs.

Research has linked exposure to BPA with a number of health effects, including reproductive problems like early onset of puberty, sperm defects, and miscarriage; metabolic problems like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease; and other problems like hyperactivity, compromised immune function, and several types of cancer.

BPA occurs in a number of household products, but humans are exposed to it when it leaches from food containers into food. One way is through canned foods and drinks. Manufacturers line the insides of cans with epoxy resin, which contains BPA, to prevent metal contamination, but frequently the BPA will leach into the food or drink itself. Especially vulnerable are cans containing acidic foods like tomato sauce or basic foods like milk. Another way is through food containers made of polycarbonate plastic, which also contains BPA. When polycarbonate water bottles and food containers are heated or washed often with harsh soaps, BPA leaches from the plastic.

Some groups claim that normal human exposure to BPA is harmless, but numerous studies on lab mice have established dangerous effects even at very low doses that would be relevant to what humans might get. This is especially disconcerting when considering the high exposure to BPA that babies get on a daily basis.

Babies can receive a double dose of BPA every time they feed, which is often. Canned baby formula contains high levels of BPA, and the substance also leaches out of polycarbonate baby bottles when heated with warm milk. A California study found five major brands of baby bottles to leach BPA above the levels that have been proven harmful to lab mice [1]. Keep in mind that babies and children are not as fully developed as adults—babies have fewer enzymes in their body than adults do that break down BPA [2]. In other words, babies take in more BPA and process it slower than adults, thereby retaining more of it in their bodies. If the results from experiments on lab mice can be used to predict effects on humans, then this early exposure to BPA could put infants at risk for sexual and developmental abnormalities, obesity, and cancer later in life.

Several strategies can minimize babies’ exposure to BPA. Mothers can breastfeed their children, thereby eliminating the need for BPA-containing bottles and canned baby formula. If breastfeeding is not an option, parents can buy glass or BPA-free baby bottles and avoid canned baby formula. Many BPA-free baby products are becoming more available in stores like Whole Foods and WalMart. In general, plastic products should be avoided. Instead of buying plastic toys, parents can consider wooden or fabric toys. Plastic plates and food containers should be replaced with glass. Plastic containers and plastic wrap should not be put in the microwave, and they should be hand-washed.

Useful websites for finding healthier baby products:
http://www.naturemoms.com and http://www.naturemoms.com/blog
http://www.safemama.com
http://www.thesoftlanding.com and http://www.thesoftlanding.wordpress.com
http://www.newbornfree.com
http://ecochildsplay.com
http://www.bpafreekids.com
http://www.thingamababy.com/baby/2008/11/whats-with-all-the-plastic.html

References
[1] Gibson, R. L. Toxic baby bottles: scientific study finds leaching chemicals in clear plastic baby bottles. 2007. Retrieved from http://www.environmentcalifornia.org/reports/environmental-health/environmental-health-reports/toxic-baby-bottles
[2] Laiosa, M. D., Hessler, W. (2009, January 12). Study predicts BPA in babies 11 times higher than adults. Environmental Health News. Retrieved from http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/newscience/BPA-11-times-higher-in-babies