What are Bisphenol-A (BPA) and Phthalates?
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, “Phthalates are plasticizers that are added to polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products to impart flexibility and durability.” They are found in many products, including food packaging, medical products, and toys. The issue is that the phthalates in plastics can leach out of these products and can end up contaminating food, soil, and air. Whether phthalates are harmful is controversial but, to be safe, the AAP reports that, “In the United States and Canada, all phthalates have been removed from infant bottle nipples, teethers, and toys intended for mouthing.” The AAP also calls for more research on this issue. Bisphenol-A or BPA is another chemical found in plastics and which can behave similar to estrogen and other hormones in our bodies. This is unlike phthalates, which are found in soft plastic products, BPA is found in hard plastics, like baby bottles and other plastic containers, such as plastic water bottles.
