Are the chemicals found in polycarbonate plastic baby bottles SAFE, as apposed to the use of glass baby bottles? There are so many rumors going around, who is a person to believe? This article will discuss some of the myths and facts of the rumors going around.
If the material bisphenol A found in polycarbonate plastic bottles are so controversial, why is it continued to be used? This plastic is preferred because not only does it make the items stronger and lightweight, it is also durable and heat-resistant. This allows the bottles to be reused and sterilized a greater number of times. One myth concerning bisphenol A is that it poses serious risk to infants and children who use polycarbonate baby bottles. The facts are that according to the National Toxicology Program “exposure to bisphenol A through polycarbonate plastic bottles does not pose any serious risk to infants and children.” These findings were established by extensive and thorough scientific processes conducted by the National Toxicology Program’s Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction. Also, the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis findings were along the same lines. In 2004, this panel concluded that “the evidence for low dose effects [of bisphenol A, the ingredient in plastic baby bottles being questioned] is very weak.” Then in 2006, the same panel updated their findings. They concluded that “the weight of evidence does not support the hypothesis that low oral doses of BPA adversely affect human reproductive and developmental health.”
Another myth is that a person should not store any formula in a baby bottle made out of polycarbonate plastic bottles for risk that bisphenol A can leech into the formula. The findings over these rumors is that if a person chooses to store liquid formula in a bottle made of polycarbonate plastic for the amount of hours the formula manufacturer specifies, they have no reason to worry. The FDA sets the standards for the safety of formula storage materials, including the safety of polycarbonate baby bottles. As long as the FDA determines polycarbonate plastic bottles safe for the storage of liquid formula, bottle manufactorers can market their bottles as safe for storage and consumers should feel safe in using them for storage.
An additional myth is that washing a polycarbonate plastic bottle in a dishwasher or using it in the microwave causes the bisphenol A to leak out and cause health risks. Again, the findings over this myth have concluded that any amount of bisphenol A that is released is far below the safe levels established by government officials.