The chemical bisphenol A that poses a number of serious health threats that include cancer and endocrine disorders has now been banned in the manufacture and production of baby bottles in California. This comes as a major relief for a number of parents who were hoping that their children would be protected from the harmful effects of this troublesome chemical. Studies that indicate a harmful effect to no risk ratio of 9:1 led the EWG to pass the Toxin-Free Infants and Toddlers Act. There has been fierce opposition from all chemical industries against this legislation that bans the use of BPA or bisphenol A (that disrupts hormones) in sipping cups and baby bottles. Protective measures such as AB 1319 that help reduce the exposure to BPA shed light on the steps being taken by the leadership to safeguard the health of fetuses, infants, and children who are extremely vulnerable to chemical hazardous agents that disrupt the normal functioning of their endocrine system, their brain, behavior, and prostate gland.
As a part of the bill, manufacturers have also been asked to use the least toxic alternative substance for manufacturing these products thought major retailers and manufacturers stopped using BPA in their bottles from 2006. With the amount of literature available on the dangerous effects of these chemicals on infants and children, it is imperative that parents choose the right and the safest products for their children. There are some companies that have been extremely conscious of the devastating effects of BPA and their plastic water bottles are completely BPA free. While polycarbonate bottles use BPA as a part of their production process, PET (Polyethylene Teraphthalate) plastic bottles never use BPA as a chemical building block for any of the materials employed in the manufacture of PET plastic.
It is recommended that people choose bottles made of porcelain, glass, and stainless steel over plastic bottles for babies because glass does not contain any of these controversial chemicals. More often than not, hard plastic bottles that are marked grade 7 along with the recycling symbol may contain BPA, so the best bet is to buy it from manufacturers who clearly label their products BPA free. Microwaving plastic bottles is a big no no because they break down over a period of time and seep into food and water. So, buying only those plastic labels that are marked Class 1 is advisable.
