Calls for ban on sale of baby bottles linked to fears over breast cancer

Published on Monday 30 November 2009 21:54

BABY bottles containing a controversial chemical should be removed from sale in the UK, campaigners warned today.

Scientists, charities and childcare experts are calling on the Scottish Government to take action over Bisphenol-A (BPA).

They believe there is "compelling" scientific evidence the chemical could be linked to breast cancer and other conditions.

Countries including Canada and the United States are already taking action to remove baby bottles containing BPA.

However, scientists are divided on whether BPA causes health problems in people after some lab studies showed problems in mice, including changes to the reproductive system.

The chemical is widely used in plastics and is commonly found in food and drink containers. Some experts believe young children may be particularly vulnerable.

Baby bottles are available which do not contain BPA, if parents choose to buy them.

Charity Breast Cancer UK has released results of a survey which found that 78 per cent of Scots either strongly agreed or agreed it was important the UK government "acts in a precautionary way when it comes to protecting babies and very young children from BPA".

The poll of more than 2,000 people across the UK found 58 per cent felt the government should end the use of BPA in bottles, while only 10 per cent back the current Food Standards Agency guidance to leave things as they are.

The No More BPA campaign, backed by the National Childbirth Trust, Unison and others, is calling on Scottish health secretary Nicola Sturgeon and her Westminster counterpart, Andy Burnham, to act on the chemical.

Campaigners believe Scotland could use its devolved powers to ban BPA.

Experts from UK universities have signed a letter to ministers outlining why they believe BPA should be removed from bottles.

The letter admits gaps remain in knowledge over the health impacts of BPA on humans.

But it adds: "The major body of scientific research and evidence over the last decade strengthens the growing consensus that low-level exposure to BPA had a significant impact on increasing the risks of developing conditions such as cancer, diabetes, impaired brain function and behavioural problems in lab animals."

Professor Andrew Watterson, from the Occupational and Environmental Health Research Group at Stirling University, and a signatory to the letter, said: "BPA has been demonstrated to leach from polycarbonate baby bottles made with BPA, and scientists have raised serious concerns about the possible long-term health impact of exposure to this chemical. Because newborns have not developed the ability to clear this chemical from their bodies as quickly as adults, it is important the Scottish Government takes action to limit exposure to this group."

Clare Dimmer, chairwoman of trustees at Breast Cancer UK, said: "There are lots of cheap alternatives to using BPA in baby bottles and major manufactures are already offering non-BPA bottles."

But other scientists expressed doubt over the strength of evidence linked to BPA concerns.

Professor Richard Sharpe, from the Medical Research Council Human Reproductive Sciences Unit based at Edinburgh University, said: "There is no direct evidence that links Bisphenol-A exposure in women, or in animal studies, to the development of breast cancer.

"Bisphenol-A is an extremely weak oestrogen and unlikely to contribute significantly to a woman's lifetime oestrogen exposure (and thus her risk of breast cancer]."