Canada Intents To Ban Plastic Polycarbonate Baby Bottles

Polycarbonate is a plastic that is made with bisphenol A. The chemical has been shown to be tied to early puberty, prostate cancer and breast cancer. Bisphenol A is a man-made chemical that allows it to occupy estrogen receptors on cells. The clear plastic which resembles glass is also used in the manufacture of DVDs, helmets, dental sealants and epoxy resins lining the insides of food cans.

Gerber, Avent and Playtex all use the soon to be banned plastic in their baby bottles. The chemical has been found to leak when heated, such as when a dishwasher is used.

”Any parent that is currently using these bottles should get rid of them immediately and spring for the $40 it will take to replace them all,” said Rick Smith, executive director of Environmental Defence.

Makers of baby bottles though are saying there is little danger in using their products. They insist that the chemical is harmless and do not pose a health threat.

The American Chemistry Council, a trade group based in Arlington, Va., said in a statement that BPA from baby bottles ”is not a risk to human health at the extremely low levels to which consumers might be exposed.” It dismissed concerns as ”another plastic-baby-bottle scare.”

Canada though has decided that even the most remote threat to the nation’s infants is not worth the future risk. The bottles will soon be banned from being imported into the country and they will be taken from the shelves. A date for the ban has not been set.

Source: By Moments in Time