By David Derbyshire Environment Editor
Daily Mail
07 May 2008
PARENTS could be putting their children at risk by using baby bottles made with ‘gender-bending’ chemicals, a charity warned yesterday. The National Childbirth Trust called on manufacturers to put warning labels on bottles made with Bisphenol A. The chemical, which mimics the femalehormone oestrogen, can pass from clear plastics into milk, water andjuice – particularly when containers are heated.
Scientists in the U.S. have linked exposure to low levels with fertility problems, breast cancer and early puberty.
Canada is phasing out bottles made with Bisphenol A because of thehealth fears, while the U.S. store chain Wal-Mart – the world’s biggestretailer – is banning them.
There have been concerns about the chemical for more than a decade.However, it is still used in nine out of ten plastic baby bottles.Belinda Phipps, the chief executive of the National Childbirth Trust,said it was important that parents had all the facts.
‘As a first step, it is important that bottles and other items thatmight reach a baby’s mouth are labelled in a standard and easy tounderstand way,’ she added.
Last month, American scientists working for a Government-fundedresearch programme published results of their latest tests of BisphenolA’s effect on animals.
They concluded that exposure to low levels ‘can cause changes inbehaviour and the brain, prostate gland, mammary gland and the age atwhich females attain puberty’.
Babies are thought to be particularly vulnerable to the effects of the chemical because they are growing.
Earlier this year, another U.S. study at the University of Cincinnatifound that the level of Bisphenol A which leaches from plastic bottlesincreases dramatically when the containers are filled with hot liquids.
Elizabeth Salter Green, of the campaign group Chemtrust, called forBisphenol A to be banned from all plastic products where there is arisk of leaching.
‘It is unwise to make products for vulnerable sections of society usingthis chemical,’ she said. ‘Because of its ability to leach out intomilk, it should not be used in baby bottles.’
Asda, which is owned by Wal-Mart, said it had no plans to ban bottles containing Bisphenol A in the UK.
However, the supermarket is introducing a Bisphenol A-free range in the summer.
A spokesman for the Chemical Industries Association said the use ofBisphenol A in food and drink products was given the all-clear by UKand European food standards authorities last year.
‘They have also confirmed that the trace levels to which we are exposedthrough eating and drinking do not present a health risk,’ he said.
D.Derbyshire@DailyMail.co.uk ...read more...
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