Dangerous Chemical Found in Plastic Bottle Packaging and Baby Bottles

Plastic bottles have been found to contains a dangerous chemical called Bisphenol A (BPA), by a some 38 scientists who worked independently of each other in 2007.

In September 2008 the National Toxicology (US) Program of NIH determined that BPA may pose risks to human development, raising concerns for early puberty, prostate effects, breast cancer, and behavioural impacts from early-life exposures.

It is believed that BPA leaks into whatever substance the container is holding, whether it be bay food, or simply bottled water. Canned food are also guilty as many have an epoxy liner made with Bisphenol A (BPA).

Pregnant women, infants and young children are most vulnerable to the harmful effects of BPA, as it is linked to risk of heart disease, diabetes, and liver toxicity.

In the 1930's it was found that BPA is an artificial oestrogen. These oestrogens might be one of the reasons why the occurrence of male pattern baldness in both males, and females seem to be on the increase. Higher incidences of effeminate men, and higher levels of fibroids in women, as estrogens stimulate the growth of myometrial tissue.

BPA also had a sister artificial oestrone hormone Diethylstilbestrol (DES) which was once used in medicine, but was pulled from the market, as DES gained notoriety when it was shown to cause a rare vaginal tumor in girls and young women who had been exposed to this drug.

Plastic bottles vs. Glass bottles

• Plastic is MUCH cheaper than glass
• Low breakage, and
• Low transport costs (weight)

The biggest growth in bottled beverages is now water. In 2006 it had a value of US. In 2011, the market is forecast to have a value of US $86,421.2 million.

Plastic Bottling in Australia

In Australia last week, stores has taken a bold move to voluntarily phase-out plastic baby bottles containing the substance, although Food Standards Australia New Zealand has long declared it safe.

Australia has no laws regulating materials used in food packaging, only an industry standard.

Food Standards chief scientist Paul Brent said that, despite calls for a BPA ban, no government agency had full responsibility.