So, I have added a few more words to my growing plastics vocabulary. I read a great article from www.environmentcalifornia.org, and the report itself is clearly stated and takes a rational stand against PVCs, phthalates, BPAs (bisphenola) based on sound evidence and testing. The highlights for me were:
Children and babies are most at risk in regard to exposure to these chemicals
Exposure has led to the following in medical testing:
Immunology probelms
Chromosome sorting problems
Poor brain functioning
Reproductive harm
Hyperactivity
Cancerous cells
It mentions bottles specifically and did trial testing on the five most popular plastic bottles on the market. They are:
Avent
Dr. Brown’s
Evenflo
Gerber
Playtex
All bottles had harmful amounts of chemicals being leached into the food being contained in them. Breast milk or formula, it doesn’t matter. Both are affected by these chemicals. So, what to do? Here are some of the recommendations:
On the bottom of many bottles and other baby and children’s cups and utensils are recycling numbers. A number 3 within a triangle means that it contains a polycarbonate – aka bisphenol a – aka BPA. Stay away from #3. Also, some but not all plastics with the number 7 within a triangle contain PVC. Numbers 1, 2 and 5 are considered safe. Also, opaque, colored plastics are mostly made of polypropylene which is considered safe.
So, to stay safe in buying for instance, Avent products, you can buy the nipples which are silicone and are safe. Then, instead of using the hard, clear bottles, you can put the baby bottle nipples on the Avent ‘magic cup’ which is a polypropylene.
I just went through this scenario in our home with “Nuby” products. A reviewer on Amazon said that these bottles are unsafe. I was feeling pretty disappointed as I really like the design of the nipple and I like the shape of them too. But, the colored ones are safe to use as they are also made of polypropylene and so we are keeping those. Unfortunately, I had purchased Avent bottles a few months ago and hope that I’ll be able to find the receipt for those so I can exchange them.
Target had a few options availabe and I bought them. “Soothie” bottles made by The First Years are marked as “PVC-Free” and I bought three of those. They have a wider design which is what I liked about the Avent bottles. Also, “Classic Pooh” bottles made for Target are labeled “PVC-Free”.
Born Free brand bottles are made specifically for parents concerned with polycarbonates. They make both “polyamide pa” plastic bottles as well as glass. Another bonus to this brand is an ‘anti-colic’ tube that is very similar to the Dr. Brown’s bottles. I have yet to purchase Born Free bottles, but they are available at Whole Foods stores as well as Babies R Us. I’ll definitely be trying these out soon. Also, Evenflo makes a glass bottle, but the design seems to be a narrower neck.
So, that’s what I’ve got so far. Please let me know your own findings and understanding of these toxins. And, if you’re someone in the marketing department in a baby bottle manufacturer, and I’ve got my information wrong, please tell me and I will correct my error immediately.
Shea said,
May 11, 2007 @ 5:54 pm
The Born Free Bottles are not available at all Whole Foods. Ours does not carry them. However if yours does carry them they currently have a coupon for them in their baby booklet (it hangs in the baby food aisle)… just in case you wanted to try them out.
Wendy Moss said,
June 20, 2007 @ 2:30 am
Soothie bottle nipple is PVC free but the the plastic bottle>
Joanna said,
November 7, 2007 @ 8:33 am
Just wanted to mention that I read the Soothie bottles are not safe, that they contain BPA. I was saddened by this because I had planned on trying those for my son to be born in January but than read an article about bottles containing BPA and the Soothie bottle was one of them, here is the link:
http://zrecs.blogspot.com/2007/07/z-report-bisphenol-in-polycarbonate.html
I also received the Classic Pooh bottles from Target as a gift at my shower, I wonder if their safe BPA wise…I know it says PVC free, but I am not sure about BPA. I ordered some Adiri bottles which are supposed to be 100% safe in every way, their very pricey and in high demand, but supposed to be great from going back and forth from bottle to breast.
Mama Luxe said,
April 19, 2008 @ 11:40 pm
Okay, late to the party here, but I was looking up Avent bottles for an acquaintance. I listed some BPA and phthalate free options in my Earth Day guide (which I entered as my URL) if anyone shows up here and wants some more leads on brands and where they are available on the ‘net.
Cheers and thanks for the info.
Kiwi the Geek said,
April 30, 2008 @ 3:35 am
You have the numbers backwards: every source I’ve read says #3 is PVC and some #7 is polycarbonate.
Does anybody know where to find safe water bottles for adults? I’m looking for some with screw on caps and no spout or extra features. Just a plain old bottle like the ones for soda.
Jonathan Shearer said,
October 17, 2008 @ 1:46 am
As a chemist maybe I can clear up some confusion. #3 plastics are PVC, almost all of which contain phthalates, #7 plastics are polycarbonate and contain bisphenol. All other plastics should be all right. Most adult water bottles are fine *except* for hard, coloured bottles such as the uber-popular Nalgene bottles which are made of polycarbonate. Safe substitutes are the old-school milky-white Nalgene bottles (HDPE – #2 plastic) or the cheap bottles that bottled water is sold in (PETE – terephthalate – which is *not* the same as phthalate). Safe substitutes for baby bottles, nipples, and toys include polypropene (PP – #5 plastic). Hope this helps.