Bisphenol A, or BPA, is a manmade chemical used in polycarbonate plastic, the material used to make most baby bottles and other shatterproof plastic food containers. Americans are widely exposed to BPA, but opinions on its safety are mixed.
The Food and drug adminstration says current uses with food are safe. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says animal testing has shown that BPA has hormone-like effects on the reproductive system. The CDC says more study is needed to see if it could be harming people.
Some pediatricians advise families to use alternatives to polycarbonate bottles to be on the safe side.
"I can't assure parents that it's safe, and I would not use that for my own babies," said Dr. Alan Greene, a pediatrician and author of "Raising Baby Green." "There are a number of BPA free bottles, and I also love glass bottles."
As parents turn to glass, manufacturers are responding with new versions of the old-fashioned favorite.
Babies "R" Us had a dramatic increase in glass bottle sales in the spring of 2007 and current sales are more than five times what they were a year ago, the company said, without releasing figures.
Credit: By LISA A. FLAM, Associated Press Writer, Yahoo news.
No comments:
Post a Comment