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What is BPA; Bisphenol A?

 

What is BPA; Bisphenol A?

BPA is an industrial chemical used in the manufacture of various plastic products. Studies have shown that it can leach out of certain products such as the plastic lining of cans used for food, polycarbonate babies bottles, white dental fillings and sealants.

Bisphenol A is used in the manufacture of a great variety of products including:
compact disks, food can linings, thermal (fax) paper, safety helmets, bullet resistant laminate, plastic windows, car parts, adhesives, protective coatings, powder paints, polycarbonate bottles and containers (including returnable milk and water bottles) and the sheathing of electrical and electronic parts.  BPA is also used in PVC production and processing, where it may be used as a reaction inhibitor, and as an anti-oxidant.

 

Why should I worry about BPA?

BPA appears to mimic the female hormone oestrogen and has been found to cause biological effects at low levels. BPA belongs to a group of chemicals called “hormone disruptors” or “endocrine disruptors”, that are able to disrupt chemical messages in the body. These chemicals can affect the development of offspring exposed in the womb. It is feared that these chemicals may be partly responsible for the decline in sperm counts, the increased rates of hormone related cancers such as cancer of the breast, testes and prostate.

 

What can I do?

Be aware of the dangers of foods and drinks contained in plastics and do not purchase them. This may be easier said than done as most food and beverage comes in some form of plastic, so just be aware and if there is a choice choose the non plastic route.

 

The information above came from http://www.wwf.org.uk/filelibrary/pdf/bpa.pdf,  if you want more information please read the full report. Please note that this was written in April 2000, almost ten years ago!

Here is some more up to date information from the Independent newspaper in September 2008

* The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Union's top food safety body have said current evidence indicates BPA is safe as currently used. Canadian health authorities have announced plans to ban some products. The U.S. National Toxicology Program has "some concern" it may harm development of the prostate and brain.

* Tuesday's Journal of the American Medical Association report found that Americans with the highest levels of BPA in their bodies were more likely to have cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and liver enzyme abnormalities.

* Studies have shown that BPA is in the urine of more than 90 percent of people in the United States.

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-wellbeing/health-news/bisphenol-a-a-common-controversial-chemical-932729.html

 
On our very own Environment Agency UK website they state, “Bisphenol A was first recognised to be a potential oestrogen-mimicking substance more than forty years ago.” (http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business/topics/pollution/39131.aspx)

 
We really have not made much progress on this. Decide for yourself if you think it is safe, just remember DDT, PCBs, Asbestos – the list goes on, all fantastic miracle materials of their time. Maybe plastics will on this list one day.

Here is a simple video about how to avoid BPA;

Latest News on BPA

Here is some news about BPAs;

25th May 2009; http://tech.blorge.com/Structure:%20/2009/05/25/harvard-study-proves-bottles-with-bpa-are-bad-for-us/