12 June 2008

bisphenol A

So it has recently come to my attention that a chemical found in most plastics might be harmful to your health.

There are several articles like this one here and then several articles that say it's not an issue here and here.

Should I be concerned? Should you be concerned? My kids aren't on bottles anymore but they do drink every drink out of a plastic sippy cup. I can't seem to find out if they are safe. We use the Gerber sippy cups.

Hm, I just found an article here that says

"Certain plastics are made with BPA and leaches at low levels into food or liquids. Leaching from plastic baby bottles and food containers appears to happen at a much lower level than found in canned foods and baby formula. Nevertheless it is good to take simple precautions."

So I now feel a little better that I should actually be more concerned with canned foods - which we don't eat that many - and baby formula - which we always used powder which is not affected.

It also says

"BPA is found in polycarbonate plastic food containers often marked on the bottom with the letters "PC" recycling label #7. Not all #7 labeled products are polycarbonate but this is a reasonable guideline for a category of plastics to avoid. Polycarbonate plastics are rigid and transparent and used for sippy cups, baby bottles, food storage, and water bottles."

My kids sippy cups don't have any numbers on the bottom except for one which has what is either a 6 or 9, I can't tell. It's not in a triangle so I don't know if it applies. But nothing has a 7 so I guess that is good?

1 comment:

Stephanie said...

I have been in the same quandry about this whole thing especially with sTella now using bottles again! I am trying to find an actual research article that poses this argument and have not had much luck with that. They are all articles about the research! I also heard its if they are microwaved which I don't do, its hard being a mom these days. And the whole organic thing make me mad too!!! Am I a bad mom????