Baby Blog – News & Tips on Organic Parenting

The Flipside of the BPA Concern

July 21st, 2009

So over the last several months many people have been following the developing story on BPA.  BPA or Bisphenol A has been a very hot button issue lately.  And it is no secret that some of the big players who have relied on BPA over the years have conspired to try and clear the dubious chemicals name.  There are many studies on both sides of the debate and the newest to come to the table is from the official Nalgene website.  Here is a caption from their site: “Agencies and researchers worldwide have studied the safety of BPA and polycarbonate for approximately 50 years; including The Environmental Protection Agency and The Food and Drug Administration in the USA, The European Commission Scientific Committee on Food, The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment and the Japan Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. Findings of studies from these agencies indicate that food and beverage containers manufactured from polycarbonate do not pose a health risk to humans. Polycarbonate is used in a wide variety of consumer products including baby bottles, water bottles, dental sealants and the lining of most metal food and beverage containers and has been for over 45 years.

Furthermore, several scientific panels including the European Union’s Scientific Committee on Food, the National Toxicology Program and the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis have concluded that the weight of scientific evidence does not support the hypothesis that low doses of BPA adversely affects human health. None of the large studies conducted have substantiated the claims made by those performing some of the smaller studies frequently cited. Health Canada and the United States’ National Toxicology Program (NTP) are completing their investigations of the scientific data compiled to date. Both identify “some concern” (NTP, 2008) for “potential health risks” (Health Canada, 2008) relative to neural and behavioral effects in early stages of development, based upon several of the animal studies reported, but have concluded the data are too uncertain at this time to draw any conclusions as to possible effects in humans at early developmental stages. Each will release separate final reports later this year.”

What a strange situation parents are in right now.  On the one hand there are scores of professionals warning us about the dangers of BPA.  And on the flip side planted square against them are scores of professionals telling us it is safe for our children.  As a father I can only tell you my opinion.  That opinion is if the world seems undecided and the issue is the safety of my family I will err on the side of caution.  It is easy to avoid products containing BPA.  You can buy BPA free baby bottles, drink from glass instead of plastic, and just be aware of the resin codes in the plastics you do use.  Sure it may be safe, but why even take the chance?

Tags: baby, baby product recall, BPA, toxins
Posted in Baby Product Safety, General | View Comments

Johnson & Johnson Refuses to Remove Cancer Causing Chemicals from Baby Products

May 26th, 2009

Last Friday a letter signed by 50 groups representing about 1.7 million people was sent to William Weldon, the CEO of Johnson & Johnson.  The letter was asking the company to reformulate it’s iconic baby shampoo and other care products to be free of the cancer causing chemicals 1,4-dioxane and formaldehyde.  The widespread response it in reaction to a recent study showing many J&J products as containing small amounts of these dangerous chemicals.  The response from Johnson & Johnson response was that they have no immediate plans to take steps toward removing the chemicals and that their are many regulatory agencies in the world that consider the trace levels of these chemicals to be safe.  There are others of course who do not.  The true concern is not that Johnson & Johnson Baby Shampoo in and of itself has dangerous levels of 1,4-dioxane and formaldehyde, but that it in combanation with the many other care products from Johnson & Johnson among other companies eventually will add up to dangerous levels.  The chemicals could be removed from the products at additional cost, as in Japan where regulations prevent the use of chemicals that will create formaldehyde.  J&J products do not contain formaldehyde in Japan.  At the very heart of this ordeal is the fact that although cosmetic care products are obsorbed into our bodies they are not regulated for safety in the United States, a fact that cosmetic companies have lobbied hard to maintain.

Tags: safety, toxins
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Dangerous Chemicals in Common Baby Care Products

May 20th, 2009

Here is some rather startling information put fourth recently by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics report, “No More Toxic Tubs”.

The CSC commissioned an independent laboratory to analyze the contents of 48 products marketing for use by babies for the two cancer-causing chemicals formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane.  The real concern is not neccessarily that one product may contain small amounts of these dangerous chemicals but that many of them would and the small amounts would add up and potentially lead to illness.  Both of these chemicals are known carcinogens and are associated with a number of health problems.  Many countries have laws restricting the use of these chemicals in care products, the United States is not one of those countries.  Formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane are not intenionally added to products.  Formaldahyde is a by-product of many commonly used preservatives.  1,4-dioxane is a by-product of chemical processing and can be removed from the product but manufacturers are not required to do so under current law.  Common ingredients likely to be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane include PEG-100 stearate, sodium laureth sulfate, polyethylene and ceteareth-20.

source: The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics

Tags: safety, toxins
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