PLASTICS AND HEALTH
German and Austrian environmental groups take aim at BPA in pacifiers / PlasticsEurope counters
One of the latest reports to raise alarm about the possible health hazards of the polycarbonate feedstock bisphenol A (BPA) comes from Germany, where the environmental group Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland (BUND, Bonn; www.bund.net) is calling for an end to the presence of BPA and all chemicals that may be classified as endocrine disruptors in products designated for children.
The national Friends of the Earth affiliate and its Austrian partner Global 2000 (www.global2000.at) said their tests of the leading brands of baby pacifiers sold in the two countries turned up traces of BPA in both the nipple and the shield. The highest concentrations, of 100 to nearly 2,300 mg per kg, were found in the shields – all but one of which were made of PC. BUND said its lab tests also found 80-400 mg of BPA per kg in the latex nipples, surmising that – “as BPA is highly mobile – the chemical may have migrated from the rigid plastic shield into the softer material.”
Most German and Austrian manufacturers and retailers of baby products contacted by BUND replied that they complied with all existing safety standards and had no qualms about using polycarbonate in their products, as any migration of BPA is likely to be negligible. Nevertheless, the replies clearly illustrate that public concern about products perceived to be health hazards is an important rationale for baby products manufacturers to switch to alternative plastics.
MAPA, manufacturer of the “NUK” brand, one of the market leaders in Germany, said it manufactures and markets pacifiers with shields made of PC and PP and likes PC because it is one of the most thoroughly tested polymers. The company added that it sees no need to switch polymers, as its products are tested by “accredited institutes” to assure there is no migration. German producer MAM said it converted its baby bottle portfolio to polypropylene-based products five years ago and three years ago also began manufacturing pacifiers from PP.
Despite the fact that internal tests with its own PC-based baby products have turned up no discernable traces of BPA, Novatex said that, due to the “very controversial discussion,” it is converting its entire production of bottles and pacifiers to PP. While noting that migration of BPA in its PC-based pacifiers is “significantly below” the levels German authorities regard as critical, the German dm drugstore chain also is acknowledging public concerns and converting its own “babylove” brand to Eastman’s “Tritan” copolyester, as US sports bottle producer Nalgene began doing a year ago – see Plasteurope.com of 25.09.2008.
This is not music to the ears of the PC/BPA working group in the European plastics manufacturers’ association PlasticsEurope (Brussels / Belgium; www.plasticseurope.com). The industry organisation asserts that BUND’s results are in direct contrast to available data and producers’ own experience. The Austrian health agency Agentur für Gesundheit und Ernährungssicherheit (AGES, Vienna; www.ages.at) said it has conducted initial tests on pacifiers and found concentrations of BPA in the latex nipples “ten times lower” than those found by Global 2000’s lab. The tests are being repeated for verification, whereby AGES said the crucial factor is to determine under which conditions – if at all – BPA can migrate into the nipple.
The national Friends of the Earth affiliate and its Austrian partner Global 2000 (www.global2000.at) said their tests of the leading brands of baby pacifiers sold in the two countries turned up traces of BPA in both the nipple and the shield. The highest concentrations, of 100 to nearly 2,300 mg per kg, were found in the shields – all but one of which were made of PC. BUND said its lab tests also found 80-400 mg of BPA per kg in the latex nipples, surmising that – “as BPA is highly mobile – the chemical may have migrated from the rigid plastic shield into the softer material.”
Most German and Austrian manufacturers and retailers of baby products contacted by BUND replied that they complied with all existing safety standards and had no qualms about using polycarbonate in their products, as any migration of BPA is likely to be negligible. Nevertheless, the replies clearly illustrate that public concern about products perceived to be health hazards is an important rationale for baby products manufacturers to switch to alternative plastics.
MAPA, manufacturer of the “NUK” brand, one of the market leaders in Germany, said it manufactures and markets pacifiers with shields made of PC and PP and likes PC because it is one of the most thoroughly tested polymers. The company added that it sees no need to switch polymers, as its products are tested by “accredited institutes” to assure there is no migration. German producer MAM said it converted its baby bottle portfolio to polypropylene-based products five years ago and three years ago also began manufacturing pacifiers from PP.
Despite the fact that internal tests with its own PC-based baby products have turned up no discernable traces of BPA, Novatex said that, due to the “very controversial discussion,” it is converting its entire production of bottles and pacifiers to PP. While noting that migration of BPA in its PC-based pacifiers is “significantly below” the levels German authorities regard as critical, the German dm drugstore chain also is acknowledging public concerns and converting its own “babylove” brand to Eastman’s “Tritan” copolyester, as US sports bottle producer Nalgene began doing a year ago – see Plasteurope.com of 25.09.2008.
This is not music to the ears of the PC/BPA working group in the European plastics manufacturers’ association PlasticsEurope (Brussels / Belgium; www.plasticseurope.com). The industry organisation asserts that BUND’s results are in direct contrast to available data and producers’ own experience. The Austrian health agency Agentur für Gesundheit und Ernährungssicherheit (AGES, Vienna; www.ages.at) said it has conducted initial tests on pacifiers and found concentrations of BPA in the latex nipples “ten times lower” than those found by Global 2000’s lab. The tests are being repeated for verification, whereby AGES said the crucial factor is to determine under which conditions – if at all – BPA can migrate into the nipple.
06.10.2009 Plasteurope.com [214526]
Published on 06.10.2009