Your Baby Sippy Cups Are Not Safe! Says Toxics Link Latest Study

New Delhi, 09 May 2016 : Unknowingly you could be exposing your babies to some of the most toxic chemicals that are  part of our everyday life and  the exposure to chemicals is progressively growing, some of these chemicals  are recognized as highly toxic and  can  interfere  with our body’s hormonal system and  seriously impact normal human growth. These chemicals are classified as Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals and are used in manufacturing of various products of everyday use. Bisphenol A is a known Endocrine disruptor and is used in manufacture of plastics products that are used by babies and children.

Besides disrupting the functioning of hormones in babies, BPA negatively impacts the behavioral and emotional aspects of girls up to 3 years of age group. Among boys it leads to depression and anxiety, while general epidemiological studies have found that it leads to heart diseases, liver toxicity and diabetes. BPA is also linked to development of early puberty in girl child.

Research studies conducted by Toxics Link “Beware of Toxic Sippy Cups: An Investigative Study on Bisphenol-A in Sippy Cups in India” have found that these Sippy cups sold in India are not regulated and contain Bisphenol-A or BPA; a chemical which is an endocrine disruptor and can impact mental and physical health.

As a part of the study, samples of sippy cups were randomly collected from different markets of Delhi and sent for lab testing at Shriram Institute for Industrial Research (SIIR), Delhi. The study found that, out of thirteen samples collected and tested, 10  samples  were found to be having BPA in it .  Almost 77% samples were found to contain BPA in them. In one of the samples, BPA concentration was found to be as high as 14.9 ppm. Surprisingly, some of the products labeled as BPA free, being sold in the market were also detected with significant amounts of BPA in them, says Piyush Mohapatra, Sr. Programme Coordinator, Toxics Link. Consumers have no means to verify and  ensure what they are buying from the market is safe for their children.

As a preventive approach, many countries have phased out the use of BPA in sippy Cups. In India though BPA use has been forbidden for use in baby feeding bottles, but there is no regulation on  use of BPA in sippy cups.  Most importantly, sippy cups do not fall under the purview of the Infant Milk Substitutes, which are covered under the Feeding Bottles and Infant Foods (Regulation of Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 1992. Surprising that both products are for use for feeding babies and these are not adequately regulated. There is an immediate need to cover  sippy cups under this act and ensure that all such cups sold in the market are free from Bisphenol A  says Satish Sinha , Assocaite Director , Toxics Link

The Bisphenol is well known EDCs and globally countries are taking actions to completely ban its use in children products. There is a need for a comprehensive policy and standards on  use  of such chemicals in products and  prevent its exposure  to humans especially vulnerable population says   ” says Ravi Agarwal, Director, Toxics Link. Manufacturers also need to act responsibly when they  place goods on their shelves and  must ensure proper labeling to correctly and adequately inform consumers.

Facts at a Glance:
 

• The present study aims to give a perspective on the use of BPA in sippy cups in India.
• Thirteen samples were randomly collected from Delhi markets.
• Out of thirteen samples, 10 (77 %) of the samples collected were found to be having BPA in it. In one of the samples, BPA concentration was found to be as high as  14.9 ppm.
• Many countries across the globe have phased out and banned the use of BPA in sippy cups.
• Bisphenol-A or BPA is a known endocrine disrupting agent that leads to serious mental and physical impacts on babies. Endocrine disrupting chemical (EDCs) is defined as “an exogenous agent that interferes with the production, release, transport, metabolism, binding, action, or elimination of natural hormones in the body responsible for the maintenance of homeostasis and the regulation of developmental processes”.
• Epidemiological studies have found correlations between BPA exposure and heart diseases, liver toxicity and metabolic syndrome (diabetes obesity). Another international study conducted on 244 mothers found that exposure to BPA before birth could affect the behavior of girls' at age of 3. There is also a research study which has linked BPA to depression and anxiety among boys.
• American Society for Reproductive Medicine's (ASRM) have found that women with the highest levels of BPA in the blood are more likely to miscarry than women with the lowest levels of BPA.

About Toxics Link (www.toxicslink.org) Toxics Link is an environmental research and advocacy organization set up in 1996 by The Just Environment Charitable Trust. It lays a special emphasis on reaching out to numerous grassroots groups; community based organizations and the public at large through its empirical study-based information on Environmental issues. Toxics Link works closely with all other stakeholders who are working on similar issues and has played a seminal role in facilitating the development of several common platforms for them at the national, regional as well as international levels.

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For interviews and further information, please contact:

 
Aastha Elawadhi
Communication Officer
aastha@toxicslink.org
www.toxicslink.org

Piyush Mohapatra
Sr. Programme Coordinator
piyush@toxicslink.org
www.toxicslink.org