The Ubiquitous Bisphenol A – Should I Be Worried About It?

Bisphenol A (BPA) is currently the subject of many articles, blogs, news reports and scientific studies. Several countries have already banned BPA in some children’s products, as have some states in the U.S. Is BPA exposure really something you should be worried about? In fact, it is. Exposure to BPA is almost inevitable.

- Plastic infant bottles

- Canned foods, including infant formula - the BPA is in the epoxy resin lining of the cans

- Water bottles - usually those marked with a “7” on the bottom

- Plastic food storage containers and packaging

That’s not to say that BPA is found only in food-related items – it’s also in CDs, hard plastic toys, cell phones, computers, and a host of other products. But, currently, experts believe that the primary entrance point of BPA into the body is through food, water (BPA-laden epoxy resins even line some water supply pipes), and food or drink containers and packaging.

The BPA leaches into the food we eat and water or other liquids we drink. It’s even found in breast milk – one more thing that’s transferred from mom’s body to baby’s.

Air and dust are other possible sources of exposure.

So, why do you want to avoid BPA? Hundreds of studies have linked even low levels of exposure to:

- Obesity

- Low sperm count

- Damage to developing eggs

- Miscarriage

- Placental cell death

- Infertility

- Heart disease

- Diabetes

- Changes in brain development

- Presdisposition to breast and prostate cancer

A recent study, published in May, 2010, examined the contents of BPA in canned foods. Not the levels in the cans themselves, but in the food contained in the cans.

The results are startling. 92% of the canned food contained BPA – which explains why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found BPA in the urine of 93% or Americans. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) also found BPA in the umbilical cord blood of newborn babies.

Should you be worried about BPA? If you’re still doubtful, read the study, No Silver Lining: An Investigation into Bisphenol A in Canned Foods.


YOUR CART