Lead Danger in Glass Baby Bottles
So you've switched to glass baby bottles because you worry about the chemicals in plastic nursing bottles. You're careful to check for cracks and chips each time you use the bottles, and you do what you can to help ensure your child doesn't throw glass bottles and break them. But despite all your precautions, you may be poisoning your child. Here's what you need to know.
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What is the Danger?
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By now, nearly everyone in the United States knows lead poses a risk to infants and children. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), six percent of children one to two years old have toxic levels of lead in their blood. Even small doses of lead may lead to hyperactivity and irritable behavior. Larger doses may lead to hearing loss and slow growth, and high levels lead to brain damage and, eventually, death.
Lead in Glass Bottles
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In the early 1990s, two members of Columbia University tested crystal and ordinary glass baby bottles by filling them with naturally acidic apple juice and formula. Within four hours, the levels of lead found in the crystal-stored apple juice increased 100 times. The lead levels in the warm formula also increased after 15 minutes.
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Which Bottles Have Lead?
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Not all glass baby bottles have lead, but it may be difficult to determine which do and which do not. Some BPA-free plastic bottles also claim to be lead free; their packaging clearly states this. This is also true of some glass bottles. Never give your child a bottle marked "crystal" or "leaded crystal." Any baby bottle you suspect of having lead should be thrown away.
What About BPA-Free Plastic Bottles?
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BPA-free plastic bottles are a possible alternative. BPA, or Bisphenol A, is a chemical found in many hard, clear baby bottles and in animal studies may be linked to poor brain development and certain types of cancers.
However, Health Canada recently released results of a test that found several supposedly BPA-free bottles to actually have higher traces of BPA than bottles not touting the label "BPA free."
Other Alternatives
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Other alternatives, although they may be difficult to find except online, are stainless steel baby bottles or bottles that are made entirely of silicone. At this time, both are considered safe. Silicone is a natural substance and chemical free. Stainless steel has the potential to leach iron, chromium and nickel if it becomes scratched, but these are all found naturally in the foods we eat and only a tiny amount should leach from a bottle.
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References
- Photo Credit www.sxc.hu
