Plastic lunch boxes, water bottles may not be good for your children: experts

Biswajeet Banerjee | The News Minute | August 7, 2014 | 7.02 pm ISTNext time you intend to purchase colourful plastic water bottle and plastic lunch box for your kids, think twice because research has proved that these plastics might contain harmful chemicals that can lead to alteration in toddler’s behavior and even expose him to diseases like diabetes and heart attacks.The findings of a research carried out by Department of Neurology, Sir Sunderlal Hospital, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi and Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (IITR), Lucknow show that these plastics carry harmful chemical Bisphenol A (BPA) – which even causes neuro-degenerative disorders in the adults. It causes dementia and other disorders..The research was also published in Journal of Molecular Neurobiology, a prestigious medical journal of the US in its August 2 edition.Dr V.N. Mishra, Head, department of Neurology, BHU, said that BPA damages estrogen (a harmone produced in woman’s ovary). This harmone is responsible for development of physical and sexual features in female and also helps on conceiving. “The exposure to BPA in the childhood for girls could have a long-term effect in adulthood,” Dr Mishra said.Expressing concern over use of BPA in plastic bottles Dr Mishra said that if it (BPA) attaches itself with the placenta in female’s womb or attached itself with the fatty acid in breast. “If the chemical houses itself in women’s breast the chances of breast cancer increases manifold. And if it attaches with the placenta the newborn baby carries the risk of cognitive imparement (mental retardation),” Dr Mishra wrote in his research paper..Dr Mishra carried out this research along with Dr Rajnish Kumar Chaturvedi of IITR, Lucknow.Dr Chaturvedi said that use of BPA has raised global concern. The US National Toxicology programme has expressed concern over use of BPA in the manufacture of plastic products. Several states in the US have banned the use of BPA in the baby bottles and cups. It has also prohibited use of BPA in the jars carrying baby food, he said.