The Cancer Association of South Africa (Cansa)
has appealed to the South African authorities to follow the lead of Canada and ban baby bottles that contain the potential health risk substance Bisphenol A.
Also known as BPA, it is a chemical that leaches out of polycarbonate the substance from which the vast majority of baby bottles in South Africa are made, including top brands which are more expensive and marketed as being best for babies.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which took an opposing stance to Canada's, concluded in August that the levels at which humans consume BPA were safe.
Two weeks ago, however, a scientific advisory board signed off a report amid allegations of a conflict of interest requesting the agency to reconsider its conclusion.
The board charged that the agency had ignored several studies and that it was premature to declare the chemical safe for human consumption.
Fidel Hadebe, the acting spokesman for the national Department of Health, said: South Africa closely monitors progress regarding BPA research done worldwide, and will take appropriate action if and when necessary, based on proper research and scientific substantiation.
Dr Carl Albrecht, head of research at Cansa, has meanwhile asked the South African government to follow the example of Canada concerning the banning of polycarbonate baby bottles containing Bisphenol A.
Although BPA is found in many objects used by people of all ages, Albrecht said that children were most vulnerable to its effects because they consumed 10 times more than adults to each kilogram of body weight.
They also had low concentrations of the drug-metabolising enzymes that could neutralise man-made chemicals such as BPA.
Baby bottles were also more likely to be exposed to heat an event that causes high levels of leaching as parents sterilise each bottle before use.
Because BPA was also an ingredient of epoxy resins used to coat metal in food cans, formula-fed babies faced an increased risk.
According to a breast pump and baby bottle expert, Jane Pitt, Bisphenol A is added to polycarbonate to make it more flexible.
Polycarbonate in its pure form was brittle and would crack if subjected to sudden extreme temperature changes, or shatter if dropped on to a hard surface.
With baby bottles that were old and scratched, the leaching of BPA was more severe, Pitt said.