Maybe you have seen the warnings: “Avoid plastic because of BPA” or “Make sure your plastics are BPA-free”. I don’t remember the first time I heard of BPA (bisphenol A) because it probably went right over my head. More and more I started hearing the warnings but I still didn’t know what the problem was. If you have found yourself in the same boat, grab an oar and I’ll share what I have learned.
Most of my information from this article (particularly any studies mentioned) come from “Mother Earth News” August/September 2009 on page 70: “Plastics: What’s Dangerous, What’s Not.”
Bisphenol A is one of the most widely produced and used chemicals around the world. One of the greatest concerns is how easily it travels from what it started in (such as a plastic bottle) to whatever that surface touches. Some things make it “migrate” faster including:
- Heat
- Acids (any kind including citrus, vinegar, soft drinks)
- Alkaline (the other end of the spectrum!)
- Repeated washing
BPA is found not only in many plastics but in an assortment of the lining of pop (soda) cans and other canned foods, certain dental procedures, inks, and water pipes, to name a few. Because it is in many inks, most recycled paper contains BPA; it sure sounds like a stubborn chemical. To add to our concerns, it can also be inhaled and it can be absorbed into our bloodstream through our skin.
A study done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found 95% of urine samples had BPA in them. One of my greatest concerns is that the research seems to correlate the side effects of BPA with the increases we have seen in the past several decades with human health. Here are a few things that research has shown are related to BPA:
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Infertility
- Breast Cancer
- Prostate Cancer
- Obesity
- Autism
- Attention Deficit Disorder
- Cardiovascular disease
BPA produces an “estrogen-like” response in our bodies that causes trouble. This is a synthetic estrogen (also called xenoestrogens) that can increase our risk for hormonally-related cancers, make PMS symptoms more severe, and likely affect other parts of our lives and health that we don’t yet comprehend.
I will blog again on how to reduce your own exposure to BPAs. I am on the same path as I am looking at replacing reusable water bottles and finding better food storage alternatives. Think twice before you put that plastic container in the microwave, would you?
Donna Copeland is an Independent Distributor for Shaklee. Shaklee is committed to NOT using BPA, in any form, in our products and packaging. Donna is paid a commission if you purchase products through her or her site. She is not paid to endorse Mother Earth News. You can explore Donna’s website at: http://www.DonnaCopeland.MyShaklee.com
