Baby Bottles Release Millions of Microplastics | This is What Parents Need to know.
Being a parent, we are attentive to the tiniest detail of products that we buy for our infants. We purchase expensive milk powder, bottles, nipples, and other feeding products. But, do you know that infant feeding bottles produce toxic microplastics during formula creation?
Hot nourishing formula degrades the bottle’s integrity and disintegrates it further into microplastics. According to research published in Nature OCT. 19, infants are susceptible to around 1.6 million particles of microplastics in feeding bottles.
What Is Micro-Plastic?
The National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) defines micro-plastic as pieces of plastic that are less than 5mm long. The emergence of micro-plastics can be accredited to numerous sources that are classified into the following two groups-
Primary Microplastics: These plastic particles have an initial length of less than 5mm, before getting exposed to the environment.
Example- Microbeads found in personal care products, nylon from textiles, etc.
Secondary Microplastics- Result from the disintegration of bigger particles after being dumped in the environment due to natural phenomena like weathering.
Example- Microplastic from bottles and utensils produced due to wind abrasion or sunlight exposure.
Do Plastic Bottles Breakdown Into Microplastics.
Plastic bottles alone release several toxic chemicals such as Bisphenol A (BPA) and Bisphenol S (BPS) that adversely affect human health. Moreover, recent studies conducted by the World health organization (WHO) show that traces of microplastics were found in 93% of the branded bottled water. Here you can read the CBC News Article.
Corollary to the concentration of microplastics in bottled water, the study of its concentration in the feeding bottles is of grave importance. As we warm the water or solution before giving it to our infants, the breakdown process of plastics into micro-plastic should increase manifold.
Are Plastic Baby Bottles Harmful, And How Are They Affecting The Health of Babies?
It is said that when it will go down in history, plastic will be considered as one of the most useful and, at the same time, the most destructive innovation of humankind.
Before we answer the question, let us understand why plastic bottles are harmful-
Synthetic Estrogen: While the human body produces an ample amount of estrogen hormone, synthetic estrogen in plastic bottles can reduce the former’s activity and production. Bisphenol A and Bisphenol S found in these bottles can mimic the natural estrogen and lead to hormonal defects in a growing infant.
A human with a higher percentage of such synthetic hormones is more likely to face disruption of thyroid-stimulating hormone and develop neuron-developmental issues, and sexual infertility. Additionally, BPA can also lead to miscarriage in pregnant women or severe health issues in an infant after birth.
Plasticizer: Phthalate used as a plasticizer in plastic bottles is known to decrease male fertility and disorient the endocrine system. Studies show that consumption of Phthalates results in the risk of diabetes, neurological disorders, disruption of the motor nervous system, development of defects in other cognitive functioning.
A child’s delay in language comprehension is one of the major concerns among some parents.
Polypropylene Plastics: As per EPA, a Higher concentration of DEPH found in Polypropylene microplastics can cause cancer. It also contains dioxins that can cause learning difficulties in growing children.
Lower Tenacity: Moderately high temperatures can quickly disintegrate any top-grade plastic as compared to other alternatives. Heat is not indifferent to microplastics in plastic bottles. While we keep plastic bottles in odd places other than refrigerators, micro-plastics slowly get involved with the liquid present in the bottle.
The problem escalates when the liquid itself is hot, as in the case of infant feeding bottles. Research shows that 0.6 million to 55 million plastic particles are produced when temperature increases from 25 to 95°C.
Consequently, the chemicals present in bottled water will bring down your immune system over time.
Also, as we can see, infants are at a higher risk from the use of plastic bottles; there is an instant need to find alternatives to these feeding bottles sooner than ever.
How Do You Prevent Microplastics In Baby Bottles?
The simple answer would be to reduce the usage of plastic bottles. However, we know that it is easier said than done, especially when the alternatives are relatively low and inaccessible.
Here are a few precautions that you can take to keep your baby safe while still using plastic bottles-
Sterilizing infant feeding bottles-
Sterilizing is essential to keep your infant protected from the pathogens and bacteria present in the environment.
Rinsing the bottle with cold water 3 to 4 times is not enough; therefore, prepare the rinsing water by boiling it in a metallic utensil.
Clean the bottle by placing it in the utensil once the burner is turned off.
You can also use a bottle sterilization solution for a thorough cleaning.
Make sure to rinse the solution off the bottle with water.
Preparation of Formula-
As heat disintegrates plastic, experts suggest that you prepare the feeding formula separately in a non-plastic container.
Pour the same formula when the temperature doesn’t affect the plastic bottle or burn your infant’s mouth.
Please Note- Don’t microwave the solution along with the plastic bottle. To reheat the solution pour it in any microwave-compatible utensil. Reheat the solution. Finally, wait till the solution is at the optimum temperature to be poured back into the bottle.
So, Cryba Bottle had come up with an alternate way to plastic feeding bottles. Our bottles are made of Food Grade 304 Stainless Steel, which has No Contact With TOXIC Plastics, which will not affect your child's health as well as it can be a step forward toward the protection of the environment from plastic.
Alternatives To Plastic Bottles
Breastfeeding - We cannot stress it more; the natural way is the correct way. Breastfeeding is considered the safest and most healthy way to feed your baby. Mother’s milk is enough to provide all the necessary nourishment an infant needs.
As much as it helps the baby develop into a healthy child, breastfeeding also has remarkable effects on the mother. It reduces the risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and aging osteoporosis.
Glass Bottles - Though out of fashion, glass bottles were very effective in maintaining the safety of an infant against plastics. These bottles are easy to manufacture, are durable at high temperatures, and do not contain toxins.
The only problem with glass bottles is that they are fragile and heavy. An infant might not be able to handle a glass bottle and break it quite often. Therefore, under the parent’s supervision, a glass bottle is the best choice.
Stainless Steel Feeding Bottles - Steel bottles in comparison to glass bottles are unbreakable and highly durable. They are extensively used with infants that are not ready for a self-feed.
The formula present in the bottle remains hot or cold for long. Layered steel bottles are heavier, but the subsequent grip is added so that the baby can hold tight to the bottle. Like glass, steel is also resistant to excessive leaching and degradation.
Silicon Feeding bottle - Food-grade silicone is soft and durable to withstand heat and cold better than plastic bottles. Silicon bottles are also resistant to chemical leaching and toxin release. Although extreme conditions may deteriorate silicon, it is highly speculative, as no conclusive study is done on the same.
Are Plastic Baby Bottles Harmful?
Plastic bottles release excessive plastics over time that get accumulated in the body of an infant. The toxins from plastic feeding bottles are among the prime reasons behind various deformities observed in a growing baby. Several techniques for feeding a baby can be used to reduce the microplastic leaching from plastic bottles.
However, Microplastic poses a grave threat to the future generation and young ones. Therefore, it is imperative to resort to a better alternative when it comes to infant feeding bottles.
Cryba provides high-grade BPA-, BPS- and microplastic-free baby bottles. We carefully assort our inventory to deliver safe and toxin-free feeding options to new parents. Cryba is determined to remove threats caused due to feeding bottles and make the safest baby bottles available to new parents.
We aim to offer products that are essential to the healthy growth of an infant. To know more about our products, feel free to surf through our product catalog or call us.