Hidden Toxins: Plastic/BPAS

BPA! BPA! BPA!

What's the buzz about these BPA's?!

Bisphenol-A is a chemical that is added to many products like food containers, hygiene products, baby bottles, water bottles, and receipts. It is also found on the inner lining of canned food containers to keep the metal from corroding. BPA was first discovered in the 1890s, but chemists in the 1950s realized it could be mixed with other compounds to produce strong and resilient plastics. It is one of the highest chemicals produced worldwide.

BPA leaches into food

BPA molecules are bound together by Ester Bonds. Ester bonds are extremely sensitive to heat, making this chemical highly unstable. BPA is known for chemical leaching, meaning it comes out of stable state and enters food, especially in high temperatures. Ever been told to not drink your water bottles that have been left in the car?

Hormone Disruptor

BPA has been tested as an artificial estrogen since the early 1930's. BPA disrupts endocrine pathways by binding to estrogen receptors and influencing bodily processes, such as growth, cell repair, fetal development, energy levels, and reproduction. They can turn on, shut off, and alter signals that the hormones send throughout our bodies. BPA can lead to infertility, poly-cystic ovary syndrome, and endometriosis, precocious puberty, breast and prostate cancer and is responsible for reproductive diseases. BPA interacts with other hormone receptors, like your thyroid thus altering their function. It is not debatable that BPA disrupts sperm production, sperm count, and motility.

Cancer

BPA exposure during early life is thought to influence tissue development that increases the risk of cancer. The mimicking of estrogen interacts with estrogen receptors that lead to changes in cell life, contributing to hormonally driven cancer progression. In many different rodent studies, BPA plays a role in hormone-dependent tumors such as breast and prostate cancer.

Obesity

We are living in an obesity epidemic with child obesity the highest it’s ever been. Over the past several decades, average mid-life body weights have risen among primates and rodents and as well as domestic dogs and cats. Multiple studies have associated BPA exposure with weight gain and obesity in both lab animals and humans. BPA accelerates the production of fat cells.

Harm development of Embryo and Children

Prenatally infants and children are more sensitive to the effects of BPA. BPA affects the brain, behavior, and prostate glands in fetuses, infants, and young children. It's also been linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and liver failure.

BPA has been banned or restricted in several countries; France, Belgium, China and Malaysia.

Solution

Reduce:

• Canned food usage

• Canned baby food usage

• Buying/using plastic

• Storing/Microwaving food in plastic

• Buying/Using plastic water bottles

• Cooking food in plastic containers (roasting/steaming bags).

• Print out copies of receipts; save yourself and save the trees!

Use instead of plastic:

• Glass

• Porcelain

• Enamel-covered metal

• Stainless Steel

• Cast Iron Pots

OK plastics:

• 2, 4, and 5

• Plastics with 7 are OK to use ONLY IF AND ONLY IF it says “PLA” or has a leaf symbol on it

• Recycle Symbol 1 is OK- One time only use, keep out of heat and sun

Note: BPA Free products have merely replaced BPA with BPS (Bisphenol-S)and BPF (bisphenol-F). STAY AWAY from plastic items labeled with the recycling numbers 3 and 7 or the letters "PC" likely contain BPA, BPS, or BPF.