Bisphenol a Leaching from Popular Baby Bottles
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BABY’S TOXIC BOttLE Bisphenol A Leaching from Popular Baby Bottles Brought to you by The Work Group for Safe Markets, a coalition of U.S. public health and environmental NGOs including: Alliance for a Clean Water Action Healthy Legacy Healthy Tomorrow Environment America Learning Disabilities Boston Common Environmental Association of America Asset Management Defence (Canada) MOMS (Making Our Breast Cancer Fund Environmental Milk Safe) Center for Health, Health Fund Oregon Environmental Environment and Justice Environmental Health Council Clean New York Strategy Center US PIRG 2 THE WORK GROUP FOR SAFE MARKEts BABY’S TOXIC BOttLE: BISPHENOL A LEACHING FROM POPULAR BABY BOttLES 3 Contributors Mia Davis, Clean Water Action Jennifer Foulds, Environmental Defence (Canada) Aaron Freeman, Environmental Defence (Canada) Kapil Khatter, Environmental Defence (Canada) Cassandra Polyzou Environmental Defence (Canada) Judith Robinson, Environmental Health Fund Michael Schade, Center for Health, Environment and Justice Rick Smith, Environmental Defence (Canada) Dr. Fred vom Saal, University of Missouri Design David Gerratt, NonprofitDesign.com Acknowledgements The Work Group for Safe Markets (U.S.) gratefully acknowledges Environmental Defence (Canada) for its leadership commissioning this study. We thank all of the local/state groups that purchased baby bottles for testing. Thank you to our many readers, especially Dr. Laura Vandenberg and Dr. Maricel Maffini. Thanks to Dr. Fred vom Saal of the University of Missouri-Columbia; Dr. JP Myers of Environmental Health Sciences; Rachel Gibson of Environment California, and the authors and reviewers of the Is It In Us? report for helping lay the foundation for what has become an extensive body of scientific knowledge on BPA leaching from products and contributing to chemical body burden. F or more information contact : Mia Davis — Clean Water Fund 262 Washington Street, #301, Boston, MA 02108 • 617/338-8131 • [email protected] Mike Schade — Center for Health, Environment and Justice 9 Murray Street, Floor 3, New York, NY 10007 • 212/964-3680 • [email protected] www.babystoxicbottle.org 2 THE WORK GROUP FOR SAFE MARKEts BABY’S TOXIC BOttLE: BISPHENOL A LEACHING FROM POPULAR BABY BOttLES 3 Contents Executive Summary 4 Background on Bisphenol A (BPA) 6 Health Effects of Bisphenol A 7 Results 9 Corporate and Governmental Policies Addressing BPA 11 Conclusions and Recommendations 13 References 15 Appendix 1: Retail Locations 18 Appendix 2: Sampling and Analytical Methodology 18 Appendix 3: Scientific Data (U.S. and Canadian Baby Bottles) 19 Tables Table 1 — Baby bottles bought in United States for testing 9 Table 2 — Results of bisphenol A concentrations in baby bottles 9 bought in Canada Table 3 — Results of bisphenol A concentrations in baby bottles 10 bought in the U.S. Figures Figure 1 — Concentration at room temperature 9 4 BABY’S TOXIC BOttLE BABY’S TOXIC BOttLE: BISPHENOL A LEACHING FROM POPULAR BABY BOttLES 5 Executive Summary isphenol A, a hormone-disrupting The objectives of this report are to a) determine chemical that is the building block of whether bisphenol A leaches at measurable polycarbonate plastic, has been found levels from baby bottles widely available in the to leach out of six major brands of United States and Canada; b) add to the grow- Bpopular baby bottles sold in the United States ing body of knowledge highlighting the extent and Canada. Baby’s Toxic Bottle: Bisphenol A to which humans are exposed to bisphenol A; c) Leaching from Popular Brands of Baby Bottles, identify a responsible and precautionary legis- commissioned by a coalition of U.S. and Cana- lative approach to managing bisphenol A and dian environmental health organizations, test- other harmful chemicals, and d) help parents ed plastic baby bottles in the U.S. and Canada, decrease their children’s exposure to bisphenol A. including products made by Avent, Disney/ The First Years, Dr. Brown’s, Evenflo, Gerber, and The test results of our study indicate that the Playtex, for leaching of bisphenol A. The U.S. United States’ current lack of regulation of bis- bottles were purchased in nine states at major phenol A exposes infants and children to poten- retailers: Babies”R”Us, CVS, Target, Toys”R”Us, tially dangerous levels of this unnecessary toxic Walgreens, and Wal-Mart. Tests found these chemical. Our study confirms the findings of the popular bottle brands leach levels of bisphenol 2007 Environment California study that tested A (5-8 parts per billion) when heated. Labora- Avent, Dr. Brown’s, Evenflo, Gerber and Playtex tory experiments with animals show that expo- baby bottles. All five brands of the popular poly- sure to this level of bisphenol A causes a range carbonate bottles tested in Environment Califor- of adverse effects.1 nia’s study leached bisphenol A the range of 5–10 ppb.3 This report is the first dual-nation study Bisphenol A, first synthesized in 1895, was to measure BPA leaching from baby bottles discovered in 1936 to be a synthetic estrogen. purchased from U.S. and Canadian retailers. The chemical is now utilized in hard, polycar- bonate plastics, as well as the epoxy resins used Key Findings in the linings of some food and beverage con- • Popular brands Avent, Disney/The First Years, tainers, dental sealants and numerous other Dr. Brown’s, Evenflo, Gerber, and Playtex consumer products. Bisphenol A is a develop- market baby bottles that leach bisphenol A mental, neural, and reproductive toxicant that when heated; mimics estrogen and can interfere with healthy • The laboratory tests detected between 5-8 growth and body function. Animal studies ng/ml (parts per billion) bisphenol A leached demonstrate that the chemical causes damage from all bottles when heated; to reproductive, neurological and immune • Based on over 150 peer-reviewed journal systems during critical stages of development, articles on bisphenol A,4 we conclude that such as infancy and in the womb. The levels the amount leaching from heated bottles sufficient to cause harm in animals are beneath is within the range shown to cause harm the average levels reported in people living in animal studies and is therefore a health throughout the developed world2. Many scien- concern for infants; tists now suggest similar damage may be • This report is the first dual-nation U.S./ occurring in the human population. Canadian study to measure the extent of bisphenol A leaching from plastic baby bottles; 4 BABY’S TOXIC BOttLE BABY’S TOXIC BOttLE: BISPHENOL A LEACHING FROM POPULAR BABY BOttLES 5 • Dr. Brown’s brand bottles had the overall • States should act quickly to adopt policies highest levels of bisphenol A leaching, while to protect consumers and restrict BPA use in Avent brand bottles had the overall lowest all food and beverage containers, including levels of leaching in U.S. bottles; Canadian those intended for use by infants and results differ. children. • The levels of bisphenol A leaching increased • The Food and Drug Administration and dramatically when the bottles were heated, manufacturers of BPA-lined infact formula with highest concentrations reported from cans should respond urgently and with full Dr. Brown’s brand bottles. These findings are disclosure to the landmark investigation by significant as baby bottles are often heated, Reps. Dingell/Stupak into BPA leaching from and/or very warm liquids are poured into infant formula cans. bottles; • Champions at all levels of government • Heating bottles to 80°C provides evidence should work to reform America's outdated of leaching when bottles are heated; heating chemical policies that are failing to protect to 80°C has been found to simulate 60–100 Americans from chemicals already on the bottle washings and normal wear and use market. Policies must be adopted that pre- conditions; vent the leaching of some of these chemicals • Major retailers including Babies”R”Us, CVS, from our consumer goods into our food Target, Toys”R”Us, Walgreens, and Wal-Mart and water. sell baby bottles that leach bisphenol A • The federal law regulating industrial chemi- when heated. cals is 30 years old. It is outdated and does not protect Americans. We need to reform Recommendations this law to protect consumers. The Toxic Based on the results of this study and the Substances Control Act (TSCA) must be research that precedes it, Baby’s Toxic Bottle calls amended to: on major retailers and manufacturers of baby – Require comprehensive, publicly available bottles to switch to safer products and phase health data on industrial chemicals out bisphenol A. Research shows5 that most – Require product manufacturers to test people are exposed to bisphenol A at levels and disclose the chemical contents of higher than those that cause health effects in their products animal studies. We support state policy efforts – Prohibit the use of dangerous chemicals to safeguard our health by working to pass laws in products, especially those targeted at that phase out bisphenol A in baby bottles and infants and children other consumer products. And, we urge the – Arm consumers with useful information federal government to reform chemical regula- to make safer product choices tions to be more protective of human health, – Provide information and technical resources particularly the health of pregnant women to businesses so they can make products and the in-utero child, as well as infants and safe for consumers, and invest in green children. In detail: economic development to spur innova- • Manufacturers and retailers should immedi- tion of safer products. ately phase out use of BPA-containing baby bottles in favor of available, safer products. 6 THE WORK GROUP FOR SAFE MARKEts BABY’S TOXIC BOttLE: BISPHENOL A LEACHING FROM POPULAR BABY BOttLES 7 Background on Bisphenol A (BPA) n 1936, scientists discovered that bisphe- into materials it comes into contact with (for nol A (BPA) could be used as a synthetic example, milk).