Apr
17
Filed Under Bisphenol-A, Dear SafeMama
Trying to get up to date on all this BPA talk popping up in the news? Just saw a report on the local or national news? Ahh we feel your mounting frustration from here. Before you get that huge trashbag and barrel through your kitchen like a sleep deprived maniac, read this. Safe Mama is all about efficiency. We know you parents are tired and need the quick and dirty version, so here you go:
- What is BPA? BPA or Bisphenol-a is a chemical used mostly in polycarbonate plastics (PC), which are used in: baby bottles, sippy cups, sports bottles, canned food / formula lining, and jar food lids. Greeeat. (feel my thick sarcasm?)
- How do I know if something is made with PC? Flip the item over and look for a recycling symbol on the bottom. It looks like a triangle of arrows with a number between 1 - 7 in the center. Polycarbonate plastic is usually marked with a 7. It might sometimes have a PC next to it indicating polycarbonate.
- Why should I avoid BPA? Bisphenol-a is a known endocrine disruptor. Meaning it has estrogenic properties which, in recent animal tests has shown to cause a bevy of health problems such as;
- precancerous tumors
- uro-genital abnormalities in male babies,
- a decline in semen quality in males,
- early onset of puberty in females,
- So, do my Avent / Dr. Browns baby bottles have BPA? If they are the traditional hard clear plastic ones that millions of people use? Most likely, YES. Want to check which bottles are not made with polycarbonate plastic (PC)? We have a growing list of bottles, sippy cups, milk storage and other items available:
- What if my item has no recycling code on it? Welcome to our hell! There is no way of knowing unless you a) Find it on the “BPA Free lists” or call the company the product is made by and ask them what kind of plastic it is. We wish it was easier than that, believe us.
Research is showing that when plastic containers, mostly those used to hold liquids and foods, are leeching Bisphenol into the foods and liquids they are holding. Heating food and liquids with these plastics is shown to increase the leeching of this contaminate. Bottom line: It’s icky and if you don’t want to chance it on your precious kids, there are ways to avoid it.
We hope that helps get you started. Please, feel free to browse the site for more information using the category list, the search function or the many resources in the left sidebar. If you’ve exhausted the resources we have here and still can’t find a suitable answer, ask us. We try to answer your questions as best we can. We’re just mom’s like you, trying to fidure it all out. So hopefully we can get help each other out!
Related articles:
- How to Avoid BPA Leeching Plastics and Containers
- The Z Report: A Directory of BPA in Sippy Cups and Baby Bottles
- Standard FAQ’s
US Consumer Product Safety Commission - Recent Child-Related Product Recalls- Pendants and Candle Charms Recalled Due to Risk of Lead ExposureThe recalled metal pendants and charms contain high levels of lead.
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- Circo Children's Bobbie Socks Recalled Due to Choking Hazard; Sold Exclusively at TargetThe ribbon on the sock can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.
- Hooded Sweaters Recalled by Empress Arts; Children Can Strangle on DrawstringsThe sweaters have drawstrings through the hood. Children can get entangled in the drawstrings that can catch on playground equipment, fences or tree branches. In February 1996, CPSC issued guidelines to help prevent children from strangling or getting entangled on the neck and waist drawstring in upper garments, such as jackets and sweatshirts. From 1985 through June 2008, CPSC received reports of 27 deaths and 70 non-fatal incidents involving the entanglement of children's clothing drawstrings.
- Bonne Bell Recalls Children's Cosmetics Accessory Bags Due to Risk of Lead ExposureThe metal clasps on the handle of the accessory bags contain excessive levels of lead, which is toxic if ingested and can cause adverse health effects.
- Pendants and Candle Charms Recalled Due to Risk of Lead Exposure
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