How Does BPA Affect a Baby's Health?

BPA and Research

• Hard plastic and the lining in metal cans, such as those that carry baby formula, frequently have traces of the industrial chemical Bisphenol A, according to the Food and Drug Administration. While the FDA originally determined these levels weren't significant enough to create problems, additional studies done on animals by the FDA and the National Toxicology Program at the National Institutes of Health signaled that more in-depth research was needed to judge the specific health impact from BPA on infants. Early studies focused on the potential risks for adults, while the new studies include risks for unborn children and babies.

Health Issues

• Unborn children and infants have immature system development, and this means the young body can't detoxify chemicals such as BPA. FDA scientists focus on the risk of brain damage and problems with prostate glands in babies and young children as a result of the exposure to BPA. The agency also supports research to determine possible links to behavioral changes and the industrial chemical, but the exact nature of the damage can't be determined using current research.

Laws and Labeling

• Clear, hard plastics contain Bisphenol A, but the thin plastic linings used in canned goods also use the chemical. The FDA helps the plastics industry develop alternatives to BPA-lined cans and urges reduction in the levels of the chemical in the can linings. Agency actions also include encouraging reducing infant exposure to the chemicals in feeding cups and baby bottles. Plastic manufacturers use recycling numbers to identify items, including Polyethylene or PET and Polystyrene or PS, but federal laws don't require manufacturers to identify infant and child products containing BPA.

Best Practices

• Reducing exposure to BPA reduces the risk to your baby. The Department of Health and Human Services recommends new mothers breastfeed babies for the first year to avoid chemical exposure. The department also encourages parents to buy only microwave- and dishwasher-safe dishes and to discard any bottles or feeding cups with scratched surfaces that might release chemicals into the food. The American Academy of Pediatrics urges parents to buy only products labeled, "BPA free." Heating foods in plastic or boiling bottles also releases BPA. Cooling sterilized bottles before adding milk or water helps minimize the transfer of the chemical, according to the HHS. Heating foods and feeding infants from glass dishes eliminates any danger from the chemical transfer.