Well, first off you should be cautious of any chemical that has enough public relations power to pad search engines with industry generated reports that the chemical is perfectly safe. The American Chemistry Council and its BPA Global Group insist (at great cost) that there are no risk associated with BPA. For many years consumer health and advocacy groups failed miserably at challenging these claims. Today, however, the growing public concern over BPA is supported by a wide range of health and medical societies.
BPA or Bisphenol A is a primary component of many plastics. It is cheap and profitable. It also leaches into our food, transfers to your body, and has been shown to be associated with a wide range of health problems. Despite the fact that The American Chemistry Council still insists that the product is safe, The National Toxicology Program at the Department of Health and Human Services warns it may pose risks to brain function, behavior, prostate development, and fetal development. And it rightly should.
BPA is an endocrine disruptor, meaning it interferes with the normal way your hormones function. It has been linked to human reproductive disorders, male impotence and penile erectile dysfunction, heart disease, sex hormone disruption, type 2 diabetes, brain function, memory, female egg development, asthma, and breast cancer.
At this stage in the game, BPA shouldn't be out there anywhere, but it is. In fact a study by the CDC revealed that 95% of human adult urine contains BPA, while 93% of child urine contains BPA. Simply put, we've got to get rid of the stuff!
The Mayo Clinic suggests you seek out BPA-free products, avoid microwaving plastics, avoid washing BPA plastics in a dishwasher, and cut back on the purchase of canned foods (those cans are lined with BPA). In my opinion, you should just avoid using plastics near your food entirely!
There are plenty of complex environmental assessments you and I have to make each day, but this one should be a slam dunk. All the science suggests it is dangerous, alternatives are easy to come by, and cost of transition is extremely low to the consumer. Simple solution....ditch the BPA plastics.
Vincent M. Smith - PhD
