I've never really been a purist when it comes to my kids. I must confess, for example, that they've consumed more than their share of Kraft macaroni and cheese.
But the past few weeks have given me pause. After years of concern about the safety of baby bottles, children's care products, and other food and beverage containers that contain the chemical bisphenol A (BPA), the verdict is in -- and it's not good.
In the last couple of weeks, the Canadian government announced it is planning to ban the use of BPA in baby bottles, and declared BPA dangerous. And, the U.S.-based National Institutes of Health (NIH) concluded that there is "some concern" that babies, fetuses, and children are in danger because BPA harms animals at the low levels found in nearly all human bodies. Sadly, a recent study found this chemical in all five leading brands of American baby bottles.
Growing children are especially at risk to chemicals as they face greater exposure per pound of body weight. Even fetuses are susceptible as chemicals, including BPA, cross the placenta in pregnant women. Over 130 studies suggest that BPA exposure, even at low doses, is linked to many health problems, including early puberty, breast and prostate cancer, obesity, attention and hyperactivity disorder, brain damage, altered immune system, and lower sperm counts.
Mothers and fathers all over the country, including myself, are feeling sick to our stomachs -- and outraged. How long have the manufacturers and sellers of baby bottles known about this? MomsRising.org members are calling for immediate action from the CEO's of the leading baby bottle manufacturers to stop the use of BPA in baby bottles. Sign the petition here and check out the messages of over 15,000 outraged parents across the U.S.
Already last week, Toys"R"Us, Babies"R"Us, and CVS announced that they will no longer sell baby bottles made with BPA, and Platex committed to stop using BPA in all their baby bottles by the year's end. So hopefully, we'll soon protect the next generation of babies from BPA. As for me, I regrettably join the millions of other mothers and fathers who must continue to worry about the possible effects of BPA on our kids.
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A Peaceful Revolution is a weekly blog about work/life satisfaction done in collaboration with MomsRising.org. Read a post by a leading thinker in the field every week.