Getty Images
READ MORE ABOUT:
Lynda Fassa is Planet Green's babies and family expert. She's the founder of Green Babies organic cotton baby clothes and the author of Green Babies, Sage Moms: The Ultimate Guide to Raising Your Organic Baby, and the forthcoming Green Kids, Sage Families: The Ultimate Guide to Raising Your Organic Family, both from Penguin NAL. Read her previous posts here.
Bisphenol A (BPA) is in the news and likely to stay there for some time. Scary as the reports are, we really do want to listen, because our kids may be especially vulnerable. BPA enters our bodies because it leaches out of plastic bottles, food containers, and even the plastic lining in metal cans. The chemicals has been measured in over 90 percent of children under 6 years.
In a recent study by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, researchers noted that although there was no direct evidence that exposure to BPA adversely affected reproduction or development, studies with mice showed that exposure to high dose levels of the endocrine disruptor during pregnancy, as well as during lactation, could reduce survival, birth weight, and growth of offspring early in life.
When developing mice were exposed to low doses of BPA that were similar to human exposures, researchers found changes in brain and behavior development, precancerious lesions in the prostrate and mammary glands, changes in the development of the prostrate gland and urinary tract, as well as early onset of puberty in females.
Their conclusion: "The possibility that bisphenol A may alter human development cannot be dismissed."
Meanwhile, in response to Canada's classification of BPA as "dangerous," Wal-Mart has announced that it will be suspending the sales of all baby products that contain BPA. Reusable-bottle manufacturer Nalgene also told the New York Times that it will be offering BPA-free alternatives due to market pressure. ::Bloomberg News
More about BPA and your health
::Fueling Baby: What to Feed Baby, and When
::Don't Buy A Nalgene Water Bottle Until You Read This
Difficulty level: Moderate
-
- {}
