BPA - What It Is and How You Can STOP Your Exposure to It!

If you are not aware of BPA and the dangers that it poses to human health, you need to read this post! Because, guess what...you ARE exposed to BPA (probably on a daily basis). Keep reading to find out what it is and what you can do now to reduce your exposure to this toxic chemical.

What is BPA?  BPA is an abbreviation for Bisphenol-A, an industrial chemical that is a component of several types of plastics and plastic additives.

Why are people talking about BPA? Is it dangerous?  BPA is a hormone-disrupting chemical known to be potentially harmful to human health and the environment. It has been linked to breast cancer, prostate cancer, cardiovascular disease and type-2 diabetes. A recent study at The University of North Carolina found a link between BPA and aggressive behavior in toddlers. The truly scary part: the CDC estimates that BPA has made it's way through 92% of the US population.

How are people exposed to BPA?  People are exposed to BPA primarily through plastic food and drink containers, plastic utensils, and even baby bottles and sippy cups. In December 2009, Consumer Reports examined 19 name-brand canned foods, including organic, non-organic, and BPA-free products. This study found that nearly all of the products contained BPA, even the BPA-free products. The issue is not necessarily with the food, but with the lining of the can itself.

What can I do to reduce my exposure to BPA?  Several things...

1. Use glass and stainless steel food and beverage containers instead of plastic whenever possible. Click HERE to read about stainless steel water bottle options.
2. Use glass baby bottles (if you can find them). Click HERE to read about some baby bottle options.
3. Avoid eating canned foods as much as possible.
4. Know your plastics! Check the bottoms of your plastics and look for the triangular recycling symbol with a number in the middle; older plastics may contain only a number without the triangular recycling symbol. This number is the key to knowing if your plastics contain BPA. Plastics with the number 2, 4 or 5 should be BPA-free as they are made with polyethylene or polypropylene.
5. When you do purchase plastics, look for "BPA-free" on the label.
6. Discard plastics with the number 1, 3, 6 or 7 as well as plastics that do not have a number on them at all.
7. Discard old plastics that are scratched, worn, cracked or hazy.

Please leave your comments or questions about this post below.

UPDATE: Wow! I never thought I would see this happen. The FDA has admitted, for the first time, that they have concerns about the safety of products containing BPA! You can read the entire article, originally posted on the Whole Foods blog by clicking here.

 

Material Connection Disclosure: You should assume that We Go Eco, LLC has an affiliate relationship with the providers of goods and services mentioned in this post and may receive compensation from these companies when you make a purchase from them. You should also know that I go to great lengths to personally research and select every product that I recommend. Rest assured that I only recommend companies, products and services that I personally use, have used, or know to be truly eco-friendly.