Can Baby Bottles Cause Cancer ?

Washington : Think twice before feeding your little one with bottled milk, canned powder or liquid formula.

According to a Federal health panel report, Formula-fed infants were most vulnerable to a chemical bisphenol-a, or BPA widely used in plastics for baby bottles, compact discs, beverage and food containers as well as linings in food cans.

A draft report from the United States Department of Health and Human Services' National Toxicology Program yesterday endorsed a finding that there was "some concern" about neural and behavioural changes in humans who consumed the chemical. The compound, feared toxic, had been detected in the urine of 93 per cent of the population of those six years and older and might cause cancer and other serious disorders.

Used in plastic production since the 1950s, BPA in laboratory animals might be a cause of breast cancer, prostrate cancer, early puberty in females and behavioural changes, the study stated.

Public health advocates said the report should spur the government to ban BPA, at least in baby products.

A number of states, including California and New Jersey, were considering ban on the plastic. Others might require manufacturers to place warning labels on products containing BPA.