BPA

What is BPA?
Bisphenol-a, also known as BPA, is a plastic additive and a known endocrine disruptor, meaning that it affects hormone systems. It is generally added to polycarbonate plastics or is used in epoxy resins to line containers. Here’s a picture of its chemical structure:

Why is BPA dangerous?
First, the plastics which contain BPA can easily break down and release the chemical into any material that it’s in contact with, including food and air. Once it is released, it can be consumed by humans and other animals.

Once consumed, BPA can cause a frighteningly vast range of health problems. Though all of its effects are not known, BPA is known to mimic estrogen, which is an important hormone. Some of the effects of BPA on test animals include: sexually dimorphic brain morphology, adverse neurological effects, adverse effects on thyroid fuction, increase in breast cancer risk, promotion of neuroblastoma (cancer) growth, increased risk of prostate cancer, disruption of development of ovaries, erectile dysfunction, and increased risk of colon inflammation. Most of the effects shown above occurred when the test animals were exposed to BPA levels equal to or less than the legal limit set by the EPA (50 μg/kg body mass). In humans specifically, BPA was found to increase risk of heart disease, erectile dysfunction, and ovarian dysfunction. BPA can also have similarly debilitating effects on ecosystems when polluted with plastics containing BPA.

Where is BPA found?
BPA is found in polycarbonates which are classified as a number 7 plastic in the Society of Plastics Industry resin identification code (though not all number 7 plastics are polycarbonates). These number 7 plastics are often used to make reusable containers and bottles, including water bottles and baby bottles. BPA is also used to line plastic food packaging as well as canned foods/drinks (like soda). The thermal paper used for receipts contains especially high levels of BPA. BPA has even been found in the coatings of water pipes in old buildings. In a study done by the Center for Disease Control, 93% of Americans over age six have BPA in their systems.

Do you know what’s in your food, water, and soft drinks?

How can I avoid exposure to/ingestion of BPA and stop the use of BPA?

• SPREAD THE WORD. Tell your friends and family about the dangers of BPA and teach them how to avoid it. (Six baby bottle companies voluntarily removed BPA from their products. YOU have purchasing power. YOU can control the market.)
• Avoid canned foods and foods packaged in plastic
• Avoid using number 7 plastics unless they’re marked “BPA free”
• Don’t microwave plastic, put it in the dishwasher, or use harsh detergents on it, as this may cause leaching of BPA
• Do not use baby bottles containing BPA, as infants are at a particularly high risk for adverse effects due to BPA
• Visit the “Legislation” tab under product hazards to find out how you can demand BPA free products in your state

Where can I find out more about BPA?
I’ll tell you one place that WON’T help you learn about the real effects of BPA: http://www.bisphenol-a.org. Though there is no evidence of it on the website itself, this site is sponsored by the American Chemistry Council, a powerful trade organization made up of over 100 corporations that want you to think that BPA is safe so that they can continue to cheaply manufacture BPA-containing products. Thanks to corporate spending, this site is one of the first to come up when you Google search “BPA”. However, the information on the site is completely inaccurate and biased. The site goes as far as to say that BPA “poses no risks to human health” when scores of studies have shown that this is clearly not the case. http://www.plasticsinfo.org is another site run by the American Chemical Council. Don’t let these corporations and their false information fool you!

That said, there are many great websites on this issue such as The Environmental Working Group’s page on BPA. Also check out Our Stolen Future for news on BPA studies and BPA legislation. This website corresponds to the book written by Theo Colborn, Dianne Dumanoski, and John Peter Meyers. Slow Death by Rubber Duck: The Secret Danger of Everyday Things written by Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie is another great source of information about BPA.