Do You Know What Your Baby Just Swallowed? Bisphenol A an Increasing Concern

Friday, September 21, 2007 by: Anita Khalek
Tags: bisphenol A, health news, Natural News

(NewsTarget) You've probably done your research on the best formula available, carefully reviewed its list of ingredients, and studied all the nutrients from which your child will benefit.  But you surely missed this unlisted item: Bisphenol A.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical used in the production of polycarbonates and it is the target of a recent independent study by the Environmental Working Group, a non-profit organization lobbying for health protective policies and sustainable development. BPA also leaches from the metal lining of cans and has been found at alarmingly high rates in one-third of the cans of baby formula.  The formulas tested included both the ready-to-eat and the concentrated formulations.  The analysis shows that one of every 16 infants is effectively being exposed to BPA levels higher than those proven harmful in animal testing, therefore placing formula-fed infants at the highest risk of contamination amongst the US population.

At lower levels of exposure, previous studies link BPA exposure to developmental toxicity, neuro-toxicity, cancer, obesity, infertility, and birth defects including Down Syndrome.  For example, the Myers study in 2006 explained the broad effect BPA can have on the human body as it alters over 200 genes, acting as the catalyst to a plethora of today's diseases.  The FDA last tested BPA in 1996 and at that time found it posing no risk to the human body.  Although dozens of studies have been published since then proving the adverse effects at much lower levels of exposure, the FDA fails to protect the public, including infants and pregnant women, the segment at highest risk of contamination.

Among other consumer products, BPA is widely found in water bottles, canned foods, and soda cans.  In fact, it is so embedded in today's consumer products that it is used in flame retardants, rubber chemicals, part of the plastic used in covering children cavities, in refrigerator shelving, microwave ovenware and returnable containers typically used for milk and water.  BPA can also be found in water pipes, electrical appliances, tools and flooring.  BPA is absolutely an environmental disaster infecting just about everything around us.

Despite the warning signs and the widespread toxicity of Bisphenol A as documented by over 100 peer-reviewed studies, our health protection agencies contend that products containing BPA are perfectly safe for their intended uses and that low dose exposure to this chemical presents no health risk, thereby resulting in the widespread use of BPA being without any safety warnings or limits.  Bisphenol A is just one of hundreds of chemicals contaminating our foods and polluting our bodies and the environment.

References:

http://www.ewg.org/featured/14

http://www.ourstolenfuture.org/NewScience/on...

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd...

About the author

Anita Khalek resides in North Carolina. As a total wellness advocate, she is a passionate believer in the healing power of Nature and is inspired by local, organic and fresh foods to nurture her family and friends. Anita is currently working on several projects including a cookbook. Visit her blog for fresh, healthy recipes at myFreshLevant.com.
Questions and suggestions can be directed to [email protected]