New studies on BPA

By mudlark • November 10th, 2008

Bisphenol-A. Or BPA for short. We’ve said a few things about it over the years, and we’ve cautioned you against certain plastics. See, BPA is a plasticizer, which means it makes plastic, well, plasticy. The problem is, it also interferes with the way your body functions, and unfortunately it leeches out of plastics and into your body as you use products that have it.

It’s known to be an endocrine disruptor, which means that it interferes with your hormones. Disrupted hormones can cause things like reproductive disorders, infertility, early puberty, behavioral problems, and stunted growth.

British researchers recently conducted a study that found a direct correlation between elevated levels of BPA in the urine (meaning higher exposure to BPA) with cardiovascular disease (including coronary heart disease, heart attack, and angina), diabetes, and liver enzyme abnormalities. In studies of animals BPA has been linked to diabetes, brain damage, developmental abnormalities, and precancerous changes causing concern that it may be a carcinogen. A CDC study found that 93% of Americans tested had BPA in their urine, with children exhibiting the highest concentration, followed by adult females and then adult males.

BPA is used in polycarbonate plastics like infant bottles, childrens’ sippy cups, food packaging, plastic bottles, medical devices, and impact-related safety devices. Typically BPA is found in hard clear plastics (as opposed to cloudy plastics). You can avoid it by looking at the number in the triangle on the bottom of any plastics you use. Look for numbers 1,2,4, and 5. The rest tend to have harmful chemicals (including BPA). The exception is number 7, a catch-all ‘miscellaneous’ category for plastics. This includes healthy plastics but it also includes BPA-laden plastics. So until they can separate out the good from the bad in category 7, we say stay with what you know you can trust – 1, 2, 4, & 5.

Comments(3) Health, Plastics

Comments

By Jessica on November 10th, 2008 at 10:27 pm

I read your post with great interest. I plan on switching all my bottles to stainless steel. Do you know of a good website? The amount of hormone disruptors in personal care products is also very alarming, especially all those lotions and soaps we use on our little ones. I make sure I read the labels very closely.

By Duracell akkus on November 12th, 2008 at 1:08 am

you’ll not believe I heard BPA first time in your post. and after reading your post I have decided to avoid plastics bags, polithines for our routine life. I’ll replace them buy paper bag, or fabric bag also… Thanks for the knowledgeable post.

By Arlon on April 13th, 2009 at 9:31 pm

Reusable bags are great if you remember to bring them. They are sturdier and naturally, better for the environment.