Glass bottles pacify fear of chemical
You’ve compared safety ratings on child car seats, stocked up on organic baby food and purchased pricey biodegradable diapers. But did you remember to check the baby’s bottle?
A wave of concerned parents have trashed plastic bottles for glass counterparts, after a recent study that concluded a certain plastic contains a chemical that can be toxic.
After testing five popular baby bottle brands — Avent, Dr. Brown’s, Evenflo, Gerber and Playtex — a California research company found that a miniscule amount of bisphenol A leeched into the liquids. The chemical has been linked to reproductive problems and cancer in lab mice, according to the study.
The report is the latest rebuttal in the debate between environmental researchers and government bodies who disagree on the health risks of bisphenol A. While some reports, such as the February study released by Environment California Research & Policy Center, conclude the chemical is hazardous at low doses, American, European and Japanese government agencies conclude the exposure to most people is negligible.
“I think that some of the things (Environment California) say are based somewhat on their political views,” said David Weiss, assistant professor of chemistry at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, who reviewed the report and other studies on the topic.
He said the concentrations of the chemical are so low that they are below the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s “levels of concern.”
The acceptable intake established by the EPA is .05 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day. The study’s findings are noted in “parts per billion,” making a comparison difficult, though the study notes that the amount of bisphenol A found fell below the government standard.
Some parents, however, aren’t taking the study lightly. Baby stores have seen a rising demand for glass — a product largely left behind when plastic came on the market.
“Nationwide at Babies R Us, we have seen a significant increase in sales and consumer interest in glass baby bottles,” said Katie Reczek, company spokeswoman.
The trend began, she said, at the release of the California study.
Some concerned parents are turning to BornFree baby bottles, which are made of polyamide plastic. The company has seen an increase in sales in Colorado Springs and Denver, said BornFree President Ron Vigdor.
“Obviously the more media awareness is out there, the better our sales,” he said. “It’s very hard to sell a product when nobody understands its benefits.”
But local moms said the choice of bottle is often left up to baby. Rebekah Leone, whose daughter drinks from a plastic Gerber bottle, said she tried several brands before finding a design her daughter liked.
“You’d think that a baby bottle, they’d make sure it’s a good thing,” Leone said.
If you’re making the switch to glass or BornFree bottles, prepare for a price hike. A set of two 9-ounce BornFree bottles costs $19.99; a set of three 8-ounce name-brand plastic bottles costs from $10 to $15. Evenflo glass baby bottles cost from $8 to $10 for a set of three 8-ounce bottles.
“I hadn’t even thought about baby bottles, honestly,” said Laurie Frydendall, a Colorado Springs mother who uses Playtex plastic baby bottles. “We’re too worried about car seats.
“With all the studies, you just try to do the best you can.”
CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0152 or melissa.cassutt@gazette.com
DETAILS
- To read the study go to: www.environ mentcalifornia.org.
On the right side of the page, click on “Reports.” Scroll down and click on “Toxic Baby Bottles.”
- Don’t know what kind of plastic your baby’s bottle is made from? For complete details, contact the manufacturer. For a quick guide when shopping, flip over the container. If the plastic is stamped with a “PC,” it is polycarbonate plastic; if the plastic is stamped with a recycling sign and a “7,” it probably is polycarbonate. Bisphenol A is used in polycarbonate.
