BPA

Saw an ad on tv last night proclaiming the health risks the substance contains. It specifically targeted the use of it in Baby bottles and warned parents that it could cause premature puberty and erectile dysfunction as well as a myriad of other potentially horrible things. I did a bit of googling on it this morning and am a bit puzzled as to why they specifically would target baby bottles in the negative publicity considering the amount of it we’re in contact with in our everyday lives.

Wiki:

Polycarbonate plastic, which is clear and nearly shatter-proof, is used to make a variety of common products including baby and water bottles, sports equipment, medical and dental devices, dental fillings and sealants, eyeglass lenses, CDs and DVDs, and household electronics.[7] BPA is also used in the synthesis of polysulfones and polyether ketones, as an antioxidant in some plasticizers, and as a polymerization inhibitor in PVC. Epoxy resins containing bisphenol A are used as coatings on the inside of almost all food and beverage cans,[18] however, due to BPA health concerns, in Japan epoxy coating was mostly replaced by PET film.[19] Bisphenol A is also a precursor to the flame retardant tetrabromobisphenol A, and was formerly used as a fungicide.[20] Bisphenol A is a preferred color developer in carbonless copy paper and thermal paper,[21] with the most common public exposure coming from some[22] thermal point of sale receipt paper.[23][24] BPA-based products are also used in foundry castings and for lining water pipes.[8]

Upon further investigation, I note that the ad has been sponsored by the baby bottle manufacturers NUK, which explains a lot. Commercialism and capatalism are concepts we understand.

It’s shameless and sneaky marketing. They’re exploiting parents’, and in particular mothers’ paranoia about and avoidance of anything that might harm their babies. I don’t know the ad you’re referring to, but I’ll bet on two things: (1) It was full of weasel words like “could”, “may” and “possible” in relation to the purported harm associated with BPA rather than any firm assertions about it, and (2) it offered a substitute material for BPA that it claims is entirely harmless but costs a good deal more (as suggested by your subsequent edit). Marketers are well aware that the easiest way to a mother’s purse is via her children.

'Luthon64