 Health Effects of Plastics
Bisphenol A (BPA) is an industrial chemical used as the starting material for the production of polycarbonate plastics and synthetic resins.
BPA/ Polycarbonate plastic is used to make a variety of common products including water bottles, baby bottles, plastic tableware and the internal coating on tins for tinned-food. It is also present in epoxy resins, used to line most aluminium drinking bottles.
BPA exposure has proven to be extremely harmful and has long term health effects including breast cancer, testicular cancer, diabetes, hyperactivity, obesity, low sperm counts, miscarriages and other reproductive failures.
BPA mimics naturally occurring estrogen, a hormone that is part of the endocrine system. The endocrine system is the body's finely tuned messaging service that controls the development of the brain, the reproductive system and many other systems.
Synthetic chemicals, such as BPA, can duplicate, block or exaggerate hormonal responses from the endocrine system, causing innumerable health problems over time. "The most harm is to the unborn or newborn child," says Frederick vom Saal, Ph.D., a developmental biologist at the University of Missouri. 'We have now shown that environmental estrogens
like BPA appear to alter, in a very complicated fashion,
the normal way estrogen
communicates with immature nerve cells.'
—Scott Belcher, researcher
A recent investigation by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel found that 80% of academically and government-funded research found that BPA is harmful in laboratory animals.
Governments are beginning to respond to this research. In October 2008, Canada became the first country in the world to ban the import and sale of polycarbonate baby bottles containing BPA. The Canadian federal government also announced it would devote $1.7 million over three years to study the chemical. Action such as this is necessary global-wide for our health and well-being. However, whilst governments catch up to the current research, we can take responsibility for ourselves and for our children by investing in safe alternatives and doing more research.
What are the alternatives?
Use glass or stainless steel for drinking vessels. Avoid lined drinking vessels.
Use glass, stainless steel or porcelain containers for storing food, especially hot food or liquids that go into the freezer. Do not use plastic containers or cling wrap in microwaves. Use glass and cover with a paper towel. Even then though, you don’t know what’s in the paper towel.
For baby bottles, choose glass or look for hard plastic bottles without BPA. Use stainless steel sippy cups or glass when they get older.
For preserved goods, opt for glass jars or canned goods that do not have liners containing BPA. |
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