Did you know that a common chemical used in the manufacture of plastics has been linked with cancer and numerous other conditions? The chemical, Bisphenol-A, or BPA, has been used to make plastic baby bottles for decades and has put billions of people throughout the world, who were bottle fed, at risk of cancer, hormone disorders and infertility.
BPA is in many other products from DVD's to resin, but its use in baby bottles is particularly concerning because when BPA heats up, it can leach out of the bottle and end up in formula milk to be ingested by the baby, causing tissue damage, hormone disruption and increasing the risk of developing cancer in later life.
While much thought has been given to the immunological and psychological benefits of breast feeding, little consideration has been given to the impact of using plastic bottles to feed a baby.
What is an endocrine disruptor?
The endocrine system is the system of hormones and glands throughout the body that regulate all of the body's functions such as growth, thyroid function, normal brain development and sexual development, including things like controlling menstruation and ovulation and levels of sexual desire. The endocrine system is a delicate balance of hormones working in harmony to bring all the different systems together. If a chemical disrupts this process, this is called an endocrine disruptor. Bisphenol-A is a known endocrine disruptor. It mimics the female hormone estrogen and when given in low levels to rats, caused changes in their brain function and personality, making them display more anxious behaviors.
A government report on BPA exposure said, "Infants and children have higher intakes of many widely detected environmental chemicals because they eat, drink and breathe more than adults on a pound for pound basis. In addition, infants and children spend more time on the floor than adults and may engage in certain behaviors, such as dirt ingestion or mouthing of plastic items that can increase the potential for exposure."
Cancer
Studies of BPA exposure in rats also found a link to cancer, pre-cancerous lesions and early onset of puberty in female rats. The same report said
'A variety of effects related to neural and behavior alterations, precancerous lesions in the prostate and mammary glands, altered prostate gland and urinary tract development, and early onset of puberty in females have been reported in laboratory rodents exposed during development to much lower doses of bisphenol-A.'
Male Infertility
A more recent study found that men who were occupationally exposed to BPA had a seven fold increase in not being able to ejaculate -- something which is rather vital to the survival of the human race.
In addition, they had a four fold increase in erectile dysfunction and a lack of sexual desire for their wives and partners which is probably due to the estrogen mimicking effects of bisphenol-A. http://infertility.suite101.com/article.cfm/bisphenola_bpa_linked_to_erectile_problems
Reducing Your Baby's Risk of Cancer and Infertility From BPA:
1. Breast feed your baby. BPA has been found in the blood of pregnant women and in breast milk, but the risk from bottles is thought to be greater due to BPA's reaction when heated. Since formula milk is made up using boiled water, this is a concern;
2. If you cannot breast feed, see if you can buy BPA-free plastic bottles. Some environmentally friendly companies also sell glass baby bottles;
3. Don't buy plastic teething rings. There are wooden alternatives;
4. Opt for wooden toys for your baby, instead of plastic ones. Baby's like to put things in their mouths and can ingest BPA by putting a plastic toy in his mouth; and
5. Eat fresh food you have prepared yourself and avoid canned foods. BPA often lines the inside of cans, putting you and your family at risk.
Source: http://cerhr.niehs.nih.gov/chemicals/bisphenol/BPADraftBriefVF_04_14_08.pdf
Joanna is a freelance health writer for The Mother magazine and Suite 101 with a column on infertility, http://infertility.suite101.com/. She is author of the book, 'Breast Milk: A Natural Immunisation,' and co-author of an educational resource on disabled parenting, in addition to running a charity for people damaged by vaccines or medical mistakes.