The Safe Sippy™ stainless steel drink cup was created in response to the growing body of emerging scientific evidence about the dangers of toxic chemicals used to make many plastics.  We chose stainless steel because it is clean, stable and durable.  Because stainless steel is stable and inert, it does not interact with the foods and fluids it comes into contact with.   So what you put in is what you get out.

When plastic is heated – in the dishwasher, microwave or even in a hot car –  chemicals leach out of the plastic into our foods.  The entire list of negative health effects associated with these chemicals is too long to cover here, and The Safe Sippy™ stainless steel cup is only one small step in stemming their flow.  But it is well known that chemicals such as Bisphenol A [BPA], DEHA and the class of chemicals known as phthalates have the most damaging effects on little bodies that are still developing.  The list of health problems associated with these substances is long and growing.  They include:  developmental problems;  ADHD;  premature sexual maturation in young females;  breast tumors in women;  particularly virulent forms of prostate cancer;  reproductive problems in both sexes;  learning disabilities;  kidney damage;  liver cancer and much more. 
 

ABOUT PLASTICS CHEMICALS

Bisphenol A (BPA).  A chemical used to make plastic shatterproof, BPA mimics the human hormone estrogen and has been linked to a number of serious health issues, including:  early onset of puberty and sexual maturation in females;  changes in gender-specific behaviors;  ADHD;  breast tumors;  decreased testosterone;  decreased sperm production;  learning disabilities;  and prostate cancer.

DEHA.  A “plasticizer” (plastic softener), DEHA exposure is linked to negative effects on the liver, kidney, spleen, bone formation and weight.  It is also a possible human carcinogen that attacks the liver.

Phthalates.  Another “plasticizer” used to soften plastics, phthalates have been shown to disrupt hormonal balances.  In 2005 the European Parliament partially or totally banned six separate phthalates for use in children’s toys.  Phthalates have been linked to cancer, dramatic changes in male sexual characteristics when exposure takes place in utero (during pregnancy), premature breast development in young girls and lowered sperm count in males.

If you are interested in learning even more, here are a few article which gave us inspiration to create The Safe Sippy™:

Articles:

• Living Better with Plastics, Dr. Andrew Weil's Self Healing, September 2006
• Phthalates health risks, Medical News Today, March 20, 2004
  
• Scientists issue warning on chemical, Los Angeles Times, August 3, 2007
  
• Smart Plastics Guide, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, October 2005
  
• Phthalates Now Linked to Fat, Related Health Risks, University of Rochester Medical Center Press Room, March 14, 2007
• Bisphenol A Exposure Causes Meiotic Aneuploidy in the Female Mouse, Current Biology,
  April 1, 2003