Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical that was used in polycarbonate plastic products and epoxy resin-based food can liners for decades to harden plastic, keep bacteria out of food, and prevent rust. Although there's little scientific data on the effects of BPA on humans, results from animal studies suggest that it's unsafe.
Today, plastic baby bottles manufactured by American companies no longer contain BPA. That's because in 2009 the six major manufacturers of baby bottles and sippy cups – representing more than 90 percent of the U.S. market – stopped making their products with BPA. And in 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned BPA in the manufacture of all baby bottles and sippy cups.
BPA also used to be present in infant formula packaging, but not anymore: By the time the FDA banned the use of BPA in formula packaging in 2013, manufacturers had already stopped using it.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says human exposure to BPA has dropped significantly in recent years, but some health and environmental groups believe more needs to be done to get BPA out of consumer products because a wide range of products – such as food storage containers, plastic tableware, and food packaging – are still manufactured with BPA.
Problems arise when the chemical leaches out of the bottle or container into the liquid or food that's in contact with the plastic. If your baby drinks or eats from a polycarbonate container, it's possible that he's also getting a small dose of BPA.
The amount that leaches depends mostly on whether the container is heated (in the dishwasher or microwave, for example) and the temperature of the liquid or food. High temperatures lead to the release of more BPA.
Although the FDA has banned BPA from baby bottles, sippy cups, and formula packaging, the agency asserts that other polycarbonate products are safe and that the BPA levels found in humans are very low. However, some medical experts, scientists, and environmental experts disagree.
According to the Environmental Working Group, studies that show the harmful health effects of BPA outnumber studies that don't by a margin of 9 to 1. Also, dozens of state and national environmental health organizations in the United States and Canada have called for a moratorium on the use of BPA in food and beverage containers. Many believe that the evidence is strong enough for parents to consider taking steps to reduce their infant's exposure to BPA when possible.
Your body’s endocrine system is made up of glands that release hormones to regulate growth, metabolism, and sexual development and function. When consumed, BPA mimics the hormone estrogen (becomes "estrogenic") and disrupts the natural balance of your endocrine system.
Animal studies show that low levels of BPA affect the hormones that control the development of the brain, the reproductive system, and the immune system. In laboratory rats, exposure to BPA has been linked to an increased risk of some cancers, decreased sperm counts and reduced fertility, and hyperactivity. BPA exposure has also been linked to obesity, diabetes, and the early onset of puberty.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Environmental Protection Agency brought together experts who reviewed 700 published studies on BPA. They found that the BPA levels in humans are higher than the levels causing adverse effects in animal studies.
The NIH says parents can safely use baby bottles identified as "BPA-free." However, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that parents use alternatives to plastic, when possible, because some studies suggest that harmful chemicals leach from any type of plastic – even those that don't contain BPA.
A 2011 study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives analyzed 500 plastic products used to contain food, including baby bottles, and found that almost all of them leached estrogen-like chemicals that disrupt hormone activity – in some cases, the BPA-free products released chemicals that were more disruptive than the products containing BPA.
Environmental and health experts agree that BPA isn't the only chemical to be concerned about. A single piece of plastic may contain five to 30 chemicals, and a plastic item with multiple parts (like a baby bottle) may contain more than 100. Even a thin sheet of plastic wrap can leach chemicals into your food when heated in the microwave.
"Plastic food containers and packaging contain dozens of ingredients – many having estrogenic effects," says Sonya Lunder, a senior research analyst with the Environmental Working Group. "BPA is one of the most potent additives. It's a good idea for parents to avoid polycarbonate plastic, which leaches BPA, and take precautions with all plastic food containers."
Lunder says it's important to avoid putting plastic in the oven or microwave because heated plastic leaches estrogenic compounds. If you prepare baby formula with boiled water, she recommends cooling it before pouring it into your baby's bottle or sippy cup.
Yes. BPA turns up in many other plastic items, such as toys, dental sealants, and water bottles. It's also found in the can liners of many canned goods.
Among other items, BPA is also found in electronics, eyeglass lenses, medical equipment, and the coating of cash register receipts, but scientists believe oral exposure is the primary concern for infants right now.
"While all of us and our children are regularly exposed to low levels of myriad chemicals, including BPA, there are some measures we can take to avoid at least some of these exposures," says Shanna Swan, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Icahn School of Medicine in New York City. "A good general principle is to avoid unnecessary exposures to chemicals in your food and water and to choose options that convey lower exposure whenever possible."
If you're concerned about your baby's exposure to BPA and other chemicals, baby bottles are an important source to address. Here are some concrete things you can do:
Here are some steps you can take to reduce your family's exposure to BPA and other chemicals:
For more guidelines, Swan suggests checking the Environmental Working Group website.
Congress is currently evaluating whether BPA should be regulated. Meanwhile, states aren't waiting for word from Congress: As of 2015, 13 states and the District of Columbia had enacted laws banning the sale of children's products containing BPA such as baby bottles, cups, food containers, and other items.
"Let your representative know that you want to be informed about BPA and other additives in the products you and your family are exposed to," says Swan. "Foods, food containers, and personal care products should be labeled as to their contents."
You can tell the government you want more testing and tighter regulation of potentially harmful chemicals as well as labels that enable you to identify hazardous ingredients and make informed purchasing decisions. And call for research on alternatives to BPA-lined cans.
The League of Women Voter's website can put you in touch with your federal and state elected officials. And you can check the National Conference of State Legislatures to see where your state stands on BPA legislation.
BabyCenter's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. When creating and updating content, we rely on credible sources: respected health organizations, professional groups of doctors and other experts, and published studies in peer-reviewed journals. We believe you should always know the source of the information you're seeing. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies.
AAP. 2018. Food additives and child health. Pediatrics. http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/142/2/e20181408 [August 2018]
AAP. 2015. Baby bottles and bisphenol A (BPA). American Academy of Pediatrics. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/feeding-nutrition/Pages/Baby-Bottles-And-Bisphenol-A-BPA.aspx [Accessed June 2016]
FDA. 2016. Questions & answers on bisphenol A (BPA) use in food contact applications. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/FoodAdditivesIngredients/ucm355155.htm [Accessed June 2016]
HCHW. Undated. Know your plastics. Healthy Child Healthy World, Environmental Working Group. http://www.healthychild.org/know-your-plastics/ [Accessed June 2016]
NIH. Undated. Bisphenol A (BPA). National Institutes of Health. http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/sya-bpa/ [Accessed June 2016]
Yang CZ, et al. 2011. More plastic products release estrogenic chemicals: A potential health problem that can be solved. Environmental Health Perspectives 119:989-996. http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/1003220/ [Accessed June 2016]
Karisa Ding is a freelance health writer and editor with expertise in preconception, pregnancy, and parenting content. A mother of two, Ding finds great joy in supporting new and expectant parents by providing information they need for the life-changing journey ahead. Ding lives in San Francisco with her family.