Hey Jess,
Gotta watch out for plastic baby bottles (and plastic teething rings, later).
Just remembered something I read a couple of months back, when pthalates (a type of plasticizer) in baby bottles, and their potential harmful effects, were creating a ruckus in the local (Toronto) newspapers. Then I thought I should blog it so others can panic too (heh) and also for my own reference archive. One such news article. A better article.
A bit of background on plasticizers:
Plastics are made up of two components: (1) the polymer, which forms the bulk, and (2) the additives, which are used to give plastic useful properties. Mainly, it is the additives that allow the great variety of plastics, and one of the more important classes (65%) of plastic additives are plasticizers, which give plastics flexibility and durability.
The problem with plasticizers is that they are not tightly bound to the polymers. They are not bonded, covalently or ionically, and instead sit between the polymer chains, lubricating and allowing the chains to slide over each other, like meat sauce on spaghetti. And because they are not bound, they can leach out of the plastic. Sometimes this is obvious, for example, the new plastics smell. Studies have shown that plasticizers can and do migrate to the surface of plastics, and then evaporate or leach out into the surrounding environment.
The most common type of plasticizers are chemicals called phthalates. Phthalate plasticizers will eventually migrate out of plastics entirely, and as a result the plastics become brittle. Because of the widespread use of phthalates, they have become one of the most abundant industrial pollutants in the environment; many phthalates are classified as toxic chemicals by the EPA's Toxic Release Inventory. More...
Pthalates have been associated with liver abnormalities including tumours, as well as fertility problems, especially male reproductive development. Some phthalates (there are many types) may act as endocrine disruptors, which mimics the naturally occurring hormone estrogen. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals can duplicate, block or exaggerate hormonal responses that control development of the brain, the reproductive system, and other functions. More...
The other compound that's of concern in baby bottles is bisphenol A (BPA). BPA is also considered an endocrine-disruptor. More... A new study released by Environmental Defence (Canada) found that 90% of plastic baby bottles sold in Canada leach BPA into infant formula, milk or other liquids being drunk by babies.
Yes, I know. As if you didn't have enough baby stuff to worry about.
Gotta watch out for plastic baby bottles (and plastic teething rings, later).
Just remembered something I read a couple of months back, when pthalates (a type of plasticizer) in baby bottles, and their potential harmful effects, were creating a ruckus in the local (Toronto) newspapers. Then I thought I should blog it so others can panic too (heh) and also for my own reference archive. One such news article. A better article.
A bit of background on plasticizers:
Plastics are made up of two components: (1) the polymer, which forms the bulk, and (2) the additives, which are used to give plastic useful properties. Mainly, it is the additives that allow the great variety of plastics, and one of the more important classes (65%) of plastic additives are plasticizers, which give plastics flexibility and durability.
The problem with plasticizers is that they are not tightly bound to the polymers. They are not bonded, covalently or ionically, and instead sit between the polymer chains, lubricating and allowing the chains to slide over each other, like meat sauce on spaghetti. And because they are not bound, they can leach out of the plastic. Sometimes this is obvious, for example, the new plastics smell. Studies have shown that plasticizers can and do migrate to the surface of plastics, and then evaporate or leach out into the surrounding environment.
The most common type of plasticizers are chemicals called phthalates. Phthalate plasticizers will eventually migrate out of plastics entirely, and as a result the plastics become brittle. Because of the widespread use of phthalates, they have become one of the most abundant industrial pollutants in the environment; many phthalates are classified as toxic chemicals by the EPA's Toxic Release Inventory. More...
Pthalates have been associated with liver abnormalities including tumours, as well as fertility problems, especially male reproductive development. Some phthalates (there are many types) may act as endocrine disruptors, which mimics the naturally occurring hormone estrogen. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals can duplicate, block or exaggerate hormonal responses that control development of the brain, the reproductive system, and other functions. More...
The other compound that's of concern in baby bottles is bisphenol A (BPA). BPA is also considered an endocrine-disruptor. More... A new study released by Environmental Defence (Canada) found that 90% of plastic baby bottles sold in Canada leach BPA into infant formula, milk or other liquids being drunk by babies.
Yes, I know. As if you didn't have enough baby stuff to worry about.
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