Toxic Nation | Pollution. It's In You.

Following hot on the heels of Canada’s ban, the US federal Congress, along with lawmakers in 24 US states, are working to ban bisphenol A (BPA) in a number of products, from plastic baby bottles to metal food cans. Health studies have linked BPA to diabetes, cardiovascular disease, developmental problems, nerve damage and an increased risk of breast and prostate cancer.

When the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) examined the safety of the chemical bisphenol A, an endocrine disruptor found in a variety of consumer products, they based their decision on two studies sponsored by the Society of the Plastics Industry, a subsidiary of the American Chemistry Council.  The FDA claims that there is no safety concern around bisphenol A at the current exposure level.

It had to be expected.

Parents everywhere are wondering, where do I find the perfect bisphenol A-free baby bottle?  The more media, the more consumer pressure, the more companies are making baby bottles from alternative forms of plastics (not polycarbonate). Check out some of the companies offering alternatives.

The authors of a best-selling guide to baby products are taking the scientific evidence on the risks of bisphenol A seriously. In the updated edition of Baby Bargains, the authors recommend parents stop using baby bottles containing bisphenol A altogether. Before this latest revision, the authors, who also publish Baby 411, advised parents to avoid heating and using detergents on bottles made with bisphenol A (BPA).

Lululemon is the latest Canadian retailer to decide to clear its shelves of bottles that contain bisphenol A. The decision will take effect in January 2008.