by Alexis Cala, PIC Current Assistant Producer
Courtesy of Tom Arthur
Many of us regularly use plastic baby bottles, water bottles, and eat canned foods. But you may want to think twice before using them next time. If you find the number “7” on the bottom of your bottles or cans, then your containers have a chemical called Bisphenol-A (BPA).
BPA is a plastic hardener used in polycarbonate plastic which is used to make all sorts of things, from CDs to baby bottles. BPA is also used to prevent leaks and contamination in canned foods. Some scientists are questioning if there has been enough testing of BPA to understand it’s long-term health effects.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a statement about the risks of BPA:
Based on all available evidence, current levels of exposure to BPA through food packaging do not pose an immediate health risk to the public, including infants and babies.
The FDA stands by the decision that BPA is not harmful. However, the agency says more research would be valuable. You can continue using products with BPA in it, but use at your own risk. Better safe than sorry.
What’s the risk if I still use products with BPA?
- BPA mimics the hormone estrogen. In this artificial form, it could cause cancer, early onset puberty, obesity, and type-II diabetes
- You and your family consume BPA when it seeps from plastics into baby formula, water or food
- Infants may be at risk because their bodies are developing and can’t get rid of the chemical
- People with high levels of BPA in their body are much more likely to have heart disease and liver-enzyme abnormalities
In the wake of these concerns, many stores have begun selling BPA-free baby bottles and water bottles. On Friday, the FDA’s Science Board will meet to discuss this issue. But FDA officials say it could take two to five years to complete the research and reach a final conclusion.
Will you wait two to five years to find out if BPA is safe or not?
In the meantime, there are ways to safeguard yourself and your family from BPA:
- Get to know your plastics!
- Think about getting rid of plastic containers with the number “7″ or the letters “PC”
- Don’t use polycarbonate plastic baby bottles
- Use powdered infant formula instead of liquid formula in cans
- Cut down on canned foods
- Don’t use polycarbonate containers in the microwave or dishwasher
- Use ceramic, glass, or other microwavable dishware
- Soft or cloudy-colored plastic does not contain BPA
- You can also check out the Environmental Working Group’s suggestions
For more information on BPA, please visit:
This is quite a up-to-date information. I think I’ll share it on Facebook.
Can you direct me a list for the best plastics that should be used for drinking? What are these BPA bottles best used for? Can I use them for storage of raw materials or essential oils for example? Or would it be best to avoid these bottles completely?
The risks of BPA are still being discussed. Until we know more, playing it safe isn’t a bad idea. You can avoid BPA by recycling your old bottles and switching to glass or stainless steel. Or, look for alternatives that are labeled “bisphenol A free”.
There are lots of BPA-free products out there. Here are a few places to get you started:
River Wired: http://www.riverwired.com/blog/bpa-plastic-products-are-bpa-free
SafeMama (this list is continuously being updated so check back regularly) in the cheat sheets’: http://safemama.com/
BPA information, products, etc: http://www.bisphenolafree.org/