The most recent in a long list of dangerous products one can purchase from Wal-Mart is a plastic baby bottle. According to recent studies, these bottles can leach dangerous hormones when heated that may cause cancer, obesity and early onset puberty. Here's the full report from the Dow Jones Newswires:
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- Popular plastic baby bottles leach a hormone-disrupting chemical when heated, possibly posing a danger to infants, according to a study released Thursday by a consortium of consumer groups.The study, which focused on six major brands of baby bottles sold in the United States and Canada, found that bisphenol A, used to make polycarbonate plastic, was given off by heated bottles in amounts that were within the range shown to cause harm in animal studies. Obesity, cancer, early-onset puberty and other conditions have been linked to BPA in animal experiments.
The report called for tighter government regulation, the phase-out of sales of BPA-containing baby bottles and further testing. It was produced by the Work Group for Safe Markets, a coalition of 17 public-health and environmental groups.
"Consumer pressure and market response is important, but we cannot shop our way out of this toxic problem," the report said. "Alternatives to products made with BPA are not available for all consumers in all markets, and it is often difficult or impossible to know if some items, like canned goods, contain bisphenol A. Government and the private sector must be part of the solution."
For the U.S., when bottles were heated from brands Avent, Disney/The First Years, Dr. Brown's and Evenflo, BPA was found to have leached at various levels. The Dr. Brown's bottles had the overall highest average BPA leaching, according to the report, while the Avent brand bottles had the lowest. A spokesman for Dr. Brown's declined to comment due to pending litigation against baby-bottle manufacturers.
For U.S. testing, 10 bottles in total were used, purchased in nine states from stores such as Target, Wal-Mart and Babies 'R' Us. The bottles were heated to 80 degrees Celsius to simulate multiple washings, and the effect of detergent."The test results of our study indicate that the United States' current lack of regulation of bisphenol A exposes infants and children to potentially dangerous levels of this unnecessary toxic chemical," according to the report.
Plastic baby bottles comprise 90% of the U.S. baby-bottle market, according to an industry group.
Some retailers have already responded to concerns. Whole Foods has ceased sales of baby bottles and child drinking cups made from polycarbonate plastic, according to the report. A handful of states are considering legislation to phase out or ban BPA, according to the report.Also, the House energy and commerce's oversight and investigations subcommittee is investigating the use of BPA in products intended for infants and children, while the Ontario provincial government in Canada has started a process to review the chemicals for safety, according to the report.
The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association Inc., a national trade group, said risk assessments performed by U.S. federal agencies "supports the safety of consumer products made with these plastics." However, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, which regulates consumer products, has been squeezed for years, and its oversight of products, especially those for children, has been criticized by lawmakers and consumer advocates.
JPMA said "a ban as is being proposed in some states" is not supported by science.
"Proponents of these bills base their support on an unsubstantiated hypothesized threat to child health," according to JPMA. "Banning reasonably produced and established safe products could force consumers to use less tested, less safe, alternative materials. In the process, such a ban actually deprives consumers of the ability to choose which products they want to buy for the care and enjoyment of their children."
How to protect yourself
The report recommends taking these steps to reduce exposure to BPA:
Use glass or polypropylene bottles (the #5 plastic) instead of polycarbonate, which is hard, shiny, clear or tinted plastic.
Do not use harsh detergents on polycarbonate bottles, or put bottles in the dishwasher. Use warm soapy water and a sponge.
Avoid heating foods in polycarbonate containers as BPA tends to leach faster at higher temperatures. Instead, use glass or ceramic containers.
Cut consumption of canned foods and beverages to reduce exposure to BPA from the interior coating of the container.
Posted by Taylor - February 11, 2008 02:55 PM - In The News
The article gives the impression that EVERYONE sells these bottles, but the UFCW blog commentary, sensationally titled "Walmart Sells Toxic Baby Bottles," implies that the problem is limited to Walmart. I also noticed that there was no explicit criticism of the manufacturer, only criticism of one of several retailers who carried this product. If the UFCW avoided such one-sided criticism in the future they might gain some sort of credibility.
Posted by Ike - February 14, 2008 01:07 AM
amen Ike. this article was pointless. next.
Posted by wendy - February 18, 2008 12:04 PM