Recently, the chemical "bisphenol" has been mentioned in the news media as
a possible risk to human reproduction. Bisphenol is a common chemical found
in baby bottles, sports bottles and microwaveable dishes. Here is some
information found on the website for the Center for Evaluation of Risks (CERHR)
to Human reproduction, part of the National Institutes of Health:
cerhr.niehs.nih.gov
CERHR selected bisphenol A for evaluation because it has received
considerable attention in recent years due to widespread human exposures
and concern for reproductive and developmental effects reported in laboratory
animal studies.
What is Bisphenol A?
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical produced in large quantities for use primarily in
the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. It exists at room
temperature as a white solid and has a mild “phenolic” or hospital odor.
Polycarbonate plastics have many applications including use in certain food
and drink packaging, e.g., water and infant bottles, compact discs, and
medical devices. Polycarbonate plastics are typically clear and hard and
marked with the recycle symbol “7” or may contain the letters "PC" near the
recycle symbol.
Polycarbonate plastic can also be blended with other materials to create
molded parts for use in mobile phone housings, household items, and
automobiles. Epoxy resins are used as lacquers to coat metal products
such as food cans, bottle tops, and water supply pipes. Some polymers
used in dental sealants or composites contain bisphenol A-derived
materials. In 2004, the estimated production of bisphenol A in the
United States was approximately 2.3 billion pounds, most of which
was used in polycarbonate plastics and resins.

Is Your Baby's Bottle Potentially Harmful?
A new study “Baby's Toxic Bottle: Bisphenol A Leaching from Popular
Baby Bottles,” released by environmental health groups in the U.S. and Canada
insists that the toxic chemical bisphenol A leaches from plastic baby
bottles when heated. The groups are calling for strong measures against
the use of bisphenol A in baby bottles and other food and beverage
containers. The report was commissioned, written and released by the
Work Group for Safe Markets, a coalition of environmental health NGOs.

Ninety-five percent of all baby bottles on the market are made with
bisphenol A. The results of the U.S. study 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
bisphenol A. Recent research on animals shows that bisphenol A
can be harmful by disrupting development at doses below these levels.

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