Popular clear, plastic baby bottles are not safe to give to your baby. They leach a toxic hormone-disrupting chemical called bisphenol A into the liquid in the bottle, according to a report released by the Environment California Research and Policy Center.

Even very small doses of bisphenol A have been linked to cancers, impaired immune function, early onset of puberty, obesity, diabetes, and hyperactivity, among other problems.

Upon analyzing five of the most popular brands of baby bottles on the market (Avent, Dr. Brown’s, Evenflo, Gerber, and Playtex), the researchers found that all five brands leached bisphenol A at levels that caused harm in animal studies.

San Francisco was the first jurisdiction in the country to finally pass a law prohibiting the use of bisphenol A in toys and other products intended for use by children under age 3. However, the chemical is widely used across the country (and is found in the urine of over 95 percent of the population).

To protect your baby from this dangerous toxin:

• Choose glass baby bottles instead of plastic
• Avoid heating food or beverages in plastic containers or bottles (this speeds up the leaching process)
• Don’t wash plastic bottles/containers with harsh soaps or hot water (this also accelerates leaching)

Environment California June 19, 2007