Are formula cans and plastic baby bottles safe?
The linings of formula cans and polycarbonate (a type of plastic) baby bottles contain the chemical bisphenol A (or BPA). While there's little scientific data on the effects of BPA on humans, studies on animals suggest that it may not be safe.
Problems arise when the chemical leaches out of the bottle or container into the liquid or food that's in contact with the plastic. If your baby drinks from one of these bottles — or consumes formula packaged in one of these cans — it's possible that he's also getting a dose of BPA. The amount of the chemical that leaches depends on the type of cans, the temperature used to sterilize the formula after the can is sealed, and the food itself (whether it's oily, for example, or how much salt it contains).
While the government and the chemical industry assert that the levels of BPA found in humans are very low and that the product is safe, many medical experts, scientists, and environmental experts disagree and believe that the evidence is now strong enough that parents should consider steps to reduce infants' exposure to BPA when possible.
In fact, dozens of state and national environmental health organizations in the United States and Canada have called for a moratorium on the use of bisphenol A (BPA) in baby bottles and other food and beverage containers.
Why are people concerned about BPA?
Animal studies show that low levels of BPA affect hormones that control the development of the brain, the reproductive system, and the immune system. In laboratory rats, exposure to BPA has been linked to an increased risk of some cancers, decreased sperm counts and reduced fertility, and hyperactivity. BPA exposure has also been linked to obesity, diabetes, and the early onset of puberty.
And, say experts brought together by the National Institutes of Health and the Environmental Protection Agency who reviewed 700 published studies on BPA, the levels currently found in humans is higher than the levels causing adverse effects in animal studies. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction has expressed "some concern for neural and behavioral effects" of BPA exposure in infants and children.
Is BPA found in other products?
Yes, in addition to babies' bottles, BPA turns up in many other plastic items, such as toys, dental sealants, plastic food containers, polycarbonate sippy cups, and water bottles. And it's not just in formula cans. It's in most cans in which food is sold — like that can of beans you put in last night's chili and the cans of tomatoes you use to make spaghetti sauce.
BPA is also found in electronics, CDs and DVDs, eyeglass lenses, medical equipment, and other items, but scientists believe that the primary concern right now is oral exposure.
How can I protect my baby?
"While all of us and our children are regularly exposed to low levels of a myriad of chemicals, including BPA, there are some measures we can take to avoid at least some of these exposures," says Shanna Swan, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Rochester School of Medicine in New York. "A good general principle is to avoid unnecessary exposures to chemicals in your food and water and to choose options that convey lower exposure whenever possible."
If you're concerned about your baby's exposure to BPA, his baby bottle or formula container is an important source to address. Here are some concrete things you can do that shouldn't hurt and might help:
- Breastfeed your baby. This one step will avoid BPAs in both bottles and formula can liners.
- If you bottle-feed your baby, use glass baby bottles or those made from BPA-free plastic instead of polycarbonate bottles. If you're using plastic, look for bottles labeled "BPA free" or buy bottles made of polypropylene, which are usually opaque or colored rather than clear. You can also see which BPA-free bottles BabyCenter moms recommend. A new, cutting-edge "green" plastic called polyactide (PLA) is also increasingly available. It's made of corn and is biodegradable and safe for food storage.
- Get rid of polycarbonate baby bottles and sippy cups that turn cloudy or are scratched or cracked. Worn bottles may leach BPA more easily.
- Don't put polycarbonate bottles or sippy cups in the microwave. Some studies show that high heat can cause more leaching of the chemical. When necessary, warm the bottle or cup by placing it in a pan of hot water.
- Whichever type of bottle you use, be sure to carefully follow the manufacturer's instructions for preparing and heating the formula. Formula needs to be gently warmed, not boiled. (In addition to causing more leaching, hot formula can burn your baby's mouth and cause nutrients in the formula to break down.)
- Use powdered rather than liquid formula. While both liquid and powdered formula cans contain BPA, powdered is a safer choice. The Environmental Working Group has calculated that babies fed reconstituted powdered formula probably receive eight to 20 times less BPA than those fed liquid formula from a metal can.
- If you buy liquid formula, select a concentrated version instead of ready-to-use formula. Diluting the product with water before giving it to your baby reduces the amount of BPA your baby receives.
How can I protect my family?
Here are some steps you can take to reduce your family's exposure to BPA:
- Don't put plastic dishware or containers in the microwave or dishwasher, and don't wash them with harsh detergents. High heat and abrasive cleansers can damage the plastic, which will make it leach more.
- When buying plastic bottles, look at the bottom of the containers. Avoid those labeled 7, as they may contain BPA. (Those labeled 3 may contain phthalates and those labeled 6 may contain styrene, so you'll want to avoid those numbers, too.) Use only containers coded 1, 2, 4, or 5.
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Eat food from a variety of sources so you don't focus on canned goods. (Most canned goods have a BPA liner.)
For more guidelines, Swan suggests checking the Environmental Working Group website.
Is anything being done about this?
Congress is currently evaluating whether BPA poses a risk to infants and whether it should be regulated. In the meantime, more and more manufacturers are offering BPA-free baby bottles and formula containers.
"Let your representative know that you want to be informed about BPA and other additives in the products you and your family are exposed to," says Swan. "Foods, food containers, and personal care products should be labeled as to their contents."
Parents can tell the government they want more testing and tighter regulation of potentially harmful chemicals, as well as labels that enable you to identify hazardous ingredients and make well-informed purchasing decisions as a parent. And call for research on alternatives to BPA-lined cans.
The League of Women Voter's website can put you in touch with your federal and state elected officials.
