Introduction

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical monomer widely used by the plastics industry in a variety of consumer products. In recent years there has been growing concern over the use of BPA, human exposure, and subsequent negative impacts on human health. BPA, a known endocrine disruptor, has been linked to decreased brain function, weight gain, breast cancer, behavioral changes, diabetes, prostate cancer, early puberty, reduced sperm count, Down's syndrome, altered immune function, changes in brain chemistry, and heart disease. The potential for these negative effects increases when exposure takes place in utero or at a young age. A common route of exposure for children is through baby bottles that contain BPA and are repeatedly heated for sterilization and cooking. In response to these potential threats to child health and the uncertainties that surround them, the European Commission has taken a precautionary approach by banning BPA from baby bottles in 2011.

As BPA is phased out in many developed countries, there is a growing fear that there will be a huge dump of products that contain BPA from these parts of the world to developing countries such who have less stringent policies on toxic chemicals.

NOODLES Research Project

A recent research project in the West African countries of Cameroon and Nigeria is examining the availability and rate of use of baby bottles that contain BPA as well as the level of awareness of the public on the threats that BPA poses to child health. Guy Bertrand Pouokam, World Library of Toxicology (WLT) country correspondent and member of the organization Noodles.ONLUS, Professor Orish E. Orisakwe, WLT country correspondent for Nigeria, and Dr. Godwin Paschal have conducted research throughout their respective countries to evaluate and better understand these issues.

Results

Based on questionnaires, face to face interviews, and visits to shops and pharmacies in several towns and cities throughout Cameroon and Nigeria, researchers on this project found:

• Baby bottles that did not contain BPA were clearly labeled and identifiable.
• People purchased baby bottles containing BPA because they are 3 to 4 times cheaper than BPA free bottles.
• There was a widespread unawareness of health risks related to the use of baby bottles containing BPA to feed children.
• Boiling is the most widely used sterilizing method for baby feeding equipment leading to a higher migration of BPA from food contact materials into baby food.

Conclusion and Next Steps

A large quantity of baby bottles that contain BPA, a lack of public awareness on the potential effects of using these bottles on developing children, a lack of public awareness on usage methods that can reduce BPA releases, and the economic hardships that prohibit many families from purchasing more expensive BPA free baby bottles are all factors, which in combination, create a scenario where high child exposure to BPA will continue well into the future.

Researchers working on this project are currently looking for funding to continue their work and address issues discovered in their findings. Funding would go to two key areas. First, a public education and outreach campaign is necessary to inform parents, pharmacists, and shop owners on the potential impacts that using products containing BPA can have on human, especially child, health. Education and empowerment of parents and the general public is extremely important. Ideally, parents and the general public should be able to recognize BPA containing baby bottles and, if they have be used, should be informed on usage methods that limit child exposure. Secondly, in an effort to assist parents in purchasing more expensive BPA free baby bottles, funding would also be used to subsidize the cost of these bottles, making them the same price as the cheaper baby bottles that contain BPA and thus equally financially accessible. These preventative efforts are necessary to protect small children from BPA exposure and persistent developmental effects that can have long term impacts on health.

For more information about this project or to make a donation you can contact the following:

Chiara Frazzoli, Leader of Noodles.ONLUS- chiara.frazzoli@iss.it
Orish Ebere Orisakwe, Researcher- eorish@aol.com
Guy Bertrand Pouokam, Researcher- pouokam_guy@yahoo.fr
Dr. Steven Gilbert, WLT Director- sgilbert@innd.org
Nick Thorp, WLT Project Manager- njthorp@toxipedia.org

References

http://www.iss.it/inte/aspe/cont.php?id=193&lang=2&tipo=12

http://www.noodlesonlus.org/Focus/tabid/477/Default.aspx

C. Frazzoli, C. Petrini, A. Mantovani (2009) Sustainable development and next generation's health: a long-term perspective about the consequences of today's activities for food safety. Annali dell'Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 45(1):65-75.