Dozens of state and national environmental health organizations in the United States and Canada are calling for an immediate moratorium on the use of bisphenol A (BPA) in baby bottles and other food and beverage containers, based on the results of a new study that demonstrates the toxic chemical BPA leaches from plastic baby bottles when heated.

Results of the study, “Baby’s Toxic Bottle: Bisphenol A Leaching from Popular Baby Bottles,” commissioned by Environmental Defence of Canada and researched by the laboratory of Frederick vom Saal, PhD, at the University of Missouri, show that, when new bottles are heated, those manufactured by Avent, Evenflo, Dr. Brown’s and Disney/First Years leached between 4.7 – 8.3 parts per billion of BPA.

Recent research on animals shows that at doses below these levels BPA can harm health by disrupting development. BPA is a synthetic sex hormone that mimics estrogen, and is used to make hard polycarbonate plastic. Ninety-five percent of all baby bottles on the market are made with BPA.

Studies conducted on laboratory animals and cell cultures have also linked low doses of BPA to obesity, diabetes, thyroid disease, breast cancer, prostate cancer, and other illnesses. BPA exposure is widespread and has been found in 95 percent of Americans tested. Scientists, physicians, and public health professionals suspect that existing scientific evidence on BPA indicates a real risk to human health.

“Once again we see the unfortunate effects of the loopholes in our chemical policy,” said Andrea Durbin, Executive Director of the Oregon Environmental Council. “Sadly, there are no existing safety standards for BPA under U.S. laws. We and our legislators need to become proactive in defending the health of our youngest, and most vulnerable citizens.”

Nine states have introduced legislation that would restrict the use of BPA in children’s products, including baby bottles; California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania. Oregon has not as yet introduced legislation.

BPA is also used to make hard plastic used in some toddler sippy cups, polycarbonate water bottles such as some Nalgene bottles, dental sealants, and the linings of many food and beverage cans, including all infant formulas.

On the Web

The full study, “Baby’s Toxic Bottle: Bisphenol A Leaching from Popular Baby Bottles,” is available to download for free on the website www.chej.org.

The U.S. version of “Baby’s Toxic Bottle” was written by the Center for Health, Environment and Justice, and Clean Water Action, in collaboration with Environment Defence, and released in the U.S. by a broad coalition of public health and environmental non-governmental organizations including: The Oregon Environmental Council, Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow, Boston Common Asset Management, Breast Cancer Fund, Center for Health, Environment and Justice, Clean New York, Clean Water Action, Environment America, Environmental Health Fund, Environmental Health Strategy Center, Healthy Legacy, Learning Disabilities Association of America, MOMS (Making Our Milk Safe), and US PIRG.