All about BPA, a component of polycarbonate plastic

Bisphenol-A, or BPA, is a building block of polycarbonate plastic. Individual BPA molecules link together in long chains to produce polycarbonate. Polycarbonate is fabricated into various shapes for use as plastic containers, including baby bottles.

Migration of BPA from bottles

Both Consumers Union and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have investigated BPA migration rates from polycarbonate baby bottles. While cut-up strips of the bottles showed greater migration, BPA concentrations in the parts per billion range were found in intact bottles by Consumers Union and scientists at the University of Nagasaki, Japan.

The Consumers Union and FDA studies suggest that migration of BPA is higher with heating. It is not yet possible to determine if BPA concentration in the bottles has an impact on migration rates, but that is a logical next step, especially since BPA concentration can increase over time as the polycarbonate breaks down or depolymerizes.

Source: Environet.policy.net