Sometimes these concerns are for real. A chemical of significant
importance to
parents and scientists these days is Bisphenol-A (BPA).
BPA is a common chemical used in plastics for increased flexibility and
molding. It can be found in your child’s plastic sippy cup, binkies,
and
even canned food. The lining found inside some canned foods is very
similar to high density plastics, thus likely to contain significant
levels of BPA. Numerous studies have proven that BPA can negatively
impact your health. Experts have advised people to shop for BPA-free
products. In general, avoiding plastics whenever possible is a good
idea.
Read on and read the label before you purchase that pair of dangly keys or canned mac’n’cheese.
Leaching is the process of a chemical seeping out of its original
binding and into its surroundings (see example here). A university
study was conducted to determine the leaching abilities of plastic
bottles wherein the interaction between warm liquids and polycarbonate
plastics released Bisphenol A (BPA) into the drinking solution. During
the Harvard study, each student was given two polycarbonate bottles,
which were not to be cleaned in the dishwasher (to void increased heat)
and filled only with cold water. The students’ urine samples came back
positive for a BPA increase of 69 percent. Is this a concern? The
unfortunate answer is “yes” because BPA has been shown to alter the
endocrine system causing early sexual development. Changes in fetal
development, sperm production, and malfunctioning hormones are also
results of BPA ingestion.
Recently, the University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill released a
study, the first of its kind, linking behavioral problems in children
from women that were exposed to BPA during pregnancy. The study
measured levels of BPA in urine samples at three different stages of
pregnancy- the first at 16 weeks, then at 26 weeks and finally at
birth. The results showed that the women who had the highest levels of
BPA in their systems at the earliest stages of pregnancy had daughters
who were more aggressive and hyperactive. To the scientists’ surprise,
girls seemed to be the most affected while boys didn’t have a big
difference in aggression but instead became more anxious and depressed.
The greatest effects caused seem to be those of the earliest exposures.
Most women can be affected even before they know they are pregnant,
which can later cause even greater problems for their unborn children.
Last year Canada became the first country to ban BPA in baby bottles
and Wal-Mart and Toys-R-Us have announced they will stock only BPA-free
bottles.
It used to be simple. If people were worried about BPA exposure, all
they needed to do was go out and buy a BPA-free bottle, usually made
from aluminum. However, BPA-free doesn’t necessarily mean BPA-free
anymore. A major bottle manufacturer, SIGG, revealed that their
supposed BPA-free aluminum bottles actually did contain BPA in bottle
linings. Another bottle manufacturer, Gaiam, recently revealed that
their BPA-free aluminum bottles did contain BPA, 23.8 parts per billion
under extreme heat conditions. This amount is ten times more potent
than the BPA levels found in SIGG. So what is a worried consumer to do
when bottles claiming to be BPA-free aren’t really BPA-free?
Fortunately, more and more options are becoming available for the
eco-conscious consumer. Here are some alternatives:
- Stainless steel- Unbreakable, portable, and safe, stainless steel bottles are one of the best reusable bottles to own
- BPA-free plastics: Look for plastic beverage containers made from
high-density polyethylene (#2 HDPE), low density polyethylene (#4
LDPE), or polypropylene (#5 PP).
- Aluminum bottles– There are manufacturers out there that offer true BPA-free aluminum bottles, just be shopping-savvy
- Glass
- Ceramic mugs
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