Editorial

CEP Clin Exp Pediatr Vol. 65, No. 9, 450–452, 2022

https://doi.org/10.3345/cep.2022.00661

Bisphenol A leaching from polycarbonate baby bottles into

baby food causes potential health issues

Key message by most countries, many developing countries still use it in the
manufacture of plasticware such as baby bottles, sippy cups, and
Can bisphenol A (BPA) leach out from polycarbonate baby
bottles into baby food? BPA and other toxic materials can leach infant formula packaging, and the public awareness of this issue
out from baby bottles and increase the risk of various health is lacking.
problems, including endocrine disturbances. Although the According to the National Toxicology Program Center
use of BPA in baby bottles has been banned, many developing for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction report,
countries still use it, which can cause health issues. Thus, public BPA has potential harmful effects on the brain, behavior, and
awareness of this issue is required. prostate glands of fetuses and infants.5) BPA, a known endocrine-
disrupting chemical, has reproductive toxicity that decreases
Bisphenol A (BPA), first developed as a synthetic estrogen fertility in animal models.6) BPA exposure is associated with
hormone, has been used in the manufacture of reusable plastic recurrent miscarriage.7) Antenatal exposure to BPA in pregnant
bottles or food and beverage can coatings such as polycarbonate women is related to white matter microstructure changes in
baby bottles, sippy cups, and infant formula packaging since their offspring that cause behavioral problems; this means that
the 1960s. However, there has been increased awareness of its pregnant women and young infants are the most vulnerable to
toxicity as an endocrine-disrupting chemical with estrogenic BPA toxicity.8) BPA is also reportedly associated with various
activity. BPA exposure seems related to an increased risk of endocrine problems related to cancers of the endocrine gland,
cancers, impaired immune function, early puberty, obesity, prostate hyperplasia, mammary gland hyperplasia, obesity,
diabetes, and hyperactivity.1) Due to increasing concern about disturbed puberty, and precocious puberty. Pant et al.9) reported
the toxicity of BPA exposure, the U.S. Food and Drug Admi­ that exposure to BPA-containing plastic baby bottles led to
nistration (FDA) delivered the “Draft Assessment of the BPA for increased triglyceride, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein,
Use in Food Contact Applications.”2) In April 2010, the FDA very low-density lipoprotein, creatine kinase-MB, and serum
raised concern about BPA exposure via a Center for Food Safety urea levels, indicating the toxicity of BPA to multiple organs.
and Applied Nutrition report.3) In July 2012, the FDA finally However, in this study, the control group was breastfed infants,
amended its regulations to “no longer provide for the use of BPA- and the study group was fed infant formula or bovine or goat
based polycarbonate resins in baby bottles and sippy cups.”4) milk via baby bottles. The feeding materials differed between
Although the use of BPA in baby bottles has been already banned the two groups. Therefore, it is difficult to conclude that the

Graphical abstract. Bisphenol A (BPA) can leach out from polycarbonate baby bottles, sippy cups, and infant
formula packaging into baby food. Other toxic materials such as bisphenol F, bisphenol S, or phthalate can
also leach out from BPA-free plasticware. These materials act as endocrine-disrupting chemicals and appear
related to the increased risk of various health problems including endocrine disturbances.

Received: 6 May 2022, Revised: 13 June 2022, Accepted: 10 July 2022

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)
which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright © 2022 by The Korean Pediatric Society
biochemical differences between the two groups were due to Email: [email protected]
the leaching of toxic BPA from the plastic baby bottles. Despite https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8206-9727
some limitations, this study is important since it fosters public
awareness of the toxicity of BPA that leaches from polycarbonate
baby bottles. Footnotes
BPA easily leaches from baby bottles, especially when washed
with hot water in a dishwasher, washed with harsh alkaline Conflicts of interest: No potential conflict of interest relevant to
detergents, dipped in boiling water for sterilizing, or heated in this article was reported.
a microwave.10) Therefore, young infants using BPA-containing
plastic baby bottles may suffer sustained exposure to toxic BPA. Acknowledgments: I thank Chanyoung Shin for providing an
Furthermore, with this incorrect handling practice, other toxic illustration for this paper.
materials such as bisphenol F, bisphenol S, or phthalate can
leach out from BPA-free plastic baby bottles. BPA, bisphenol ORCID:
S, and other toxins can leach out from type 7 plastic, including Ga Won Jeon iD https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8206-9727
polycarbonate commonly used for baby bottles, sippy cups,
medical storage containers, and metal food can linings.
Although the use of BPA in baby bottles has already been References
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www.e-cep.org https://doi.org/10.3345/cep.2022.00661 451

 tion of the migration of chemicals from plastic baby bottles used as
substitutes for polycarbonate. Food Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal How to cite this article: Jeon GW. Bisphenol A leaching from
Control Expo Risk Assess 2012;29:469-80. polycarbonate baby bottles into baby food causes potential
health issues. Clin Exp Pediatr 2022;65:650-2. https://doi.
org/10.3345/cep.2022.00661

452 Jeon GW. Migration of bisphenol A from polycarbonate baby bottles