JoeGoldfarb.com

Just as nearly every typical American kitchen includes a microwave oven, one can find in the typical American household countless plastic containers, bags, wraps and toys located in refrigerators, cupboards, and in closets around the house. Prepackaged food such as the TV dinners are included inside of a plastic tray sealed with a plastic wrap. Canned food doesn’t always come packaged in metal anymore. Plastic canned food containers are becoming more and more common. Leftovers are either wrapped in plastic or put into plastic containers for storage in the fridge. Plasticware (plastic replacement silverware) such as forks and spoons are inserted into our mouths. Plastic baby bottles are used to feed our small children. Due to the pervasive and widespread use of plastics, the toxic chemical Bisphenol A (abbreviated BPA) used in polycarbonate plastic is found in the body of nearly every single person living in a developed country.

BPA Linked To..

A new study conducted by Environmental Defence, a Toronto-based environmental group was released several days ago (Thursday) showing that heated plastic baby bottles leached a known toxic chemical called Bisphenol A. This synthetic chemical, which mimics the hormone estrogen has been shown to cause developmental toxicity, carcinogenic effects, and possible neurotoxicity. It has also been linked to:

• obesity
• low sperm count
• infertile sperm
• breast cancer
• prostate cancer
• early puberty
• hyperactivity
• miscarriage
• diabetes
• altered immune systems
• schizophrenia.

The medical, reproductive and developmental problems this chemical causes puts the smaller body weight of babies and children at greater risk of the toxic effects poisoning from Bisphenol A.

The Leaching Plastic

Approximately 90% of all plastic baby bottles sold in the U.S. Are made with BPA. However, not all polycarbonate plastics leach this chemical to the same degree as others. Generally the softer the plastic the greater the probability of leaching. High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), known as plastic number 2 is used for bottling or containing milk, juice, water, yogurt, margarine tubs including trash and retail bags, is one of three types of plastic with the least risk of leaching BPA. Plastic number 1, Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE) has least risk. As we move further up the number scale in plastic identification numbers, the risk for leaching Bisphenol A increases. The most common plastic personally I come across is number 4, Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE). It is used to make frozen food bags, squeezable bottles (like the ones honey, ketchup, and mustard are bottled in), flexible containers, foam packaging, and plastic bags used for packaging electronics. Even though LDPE is soft, it is believed, along with plastic 2 (HDPE) and plastic 5 (PP) to not leach BPA in a significant amounts. Plastic number 7 (Other) is the plastic used in the study conducted by the Environmental Defense and which poses the greatest health rest of all types of plastics. Plastic number 7 is often used to make beverage bottles and baby milk bottles.

The study conducted by the Environmental Defense purchased randomly 19 bottles in Canada and several U.S. states including one at a target near Minneapolis St. Paul Minnesota. These bottles were manufactured by Avent, Evenflo, Dr. Brown’s and Disney/First Years. The researchers heated the bottles to 185° F causing 5 to 8 parts per billion of this toxic chemical BPA to leach. This ratio is well above the levels that some animal research studies have shown to be harmful.

BPA is known to leach from plastics that are cleaned with harsh detergents were used to contain acidic or high temperature that liquids such as apple juice milk and baby formula.

The chemical interacts in a unique way with acidic liquids such as apple juice, baby formula and milk potentially interacting in a manor that releases higher quantities of BPA. Also cleaning plastic bottles with harsh detergents are known to leech this chemical BPA. As plastic ages it deteriorates releasing BPA.

Banning Toxic BPA Plastics

Growing awareness of the toxicity BPA poses to humans has led to several companies and U.S. jurisdictions to ban products manufactured and containing this chemical. In December 2006 the city of San Francisco, California banned the sale of baby bottles and other products designed for young children containing this chemical. However the ban was never enforced and ended up repealed. The most recent action to take place, due in part to this recent study, Minnesota lawmakers want to ban BPA from baby bottles citing it “…as a hormone wrecker.” (http://www.twincities.com/allheadlines/ci_8202314) Several U.S. Retail chains that promote healthy food and lifestyles have already ceased selling plastics containing this toxic chemical. Patagonia Inc., A retailer of outdoor gear stopped selling polycarbonate bottles in 2005. In 2006 baby bottles were no longer sold at Whole Foods Markets. Mountain equipment Co-op in 2007 discontinued selling bottles containing Bisphenol A. Currently there are nine U.S. states with legislation pending that would affect the use of this chemical in containers.

While this most recent study shows that baby bottles made with plastic number 7 leaches BPA when heated, we can rationally presume this chemical can be leached out at a lower rates at lower temperatures (room temperature) over a long time frame. A 2005 fetal study showed “permanent changes to genital tract” and “persistent changes to breast tissue, predisposing cells to hormones and carcinogens” from daily exposure to BPA at the nearly non-existent small dose of 0.025 parts per billion. At daily fetal BPA exposure rate of 2 to 2.5 parts per billion — an amount scientific bodies generally consider invisible for any substance — resulted in more toxic effects. While these studies were preformed over a finite time frame on a small fetus, longterm health effects on adult humans from exposure to this toxic chemical are unknown.

Major retailers including Toys”R”Us, CVS, Target, Walgreens and Wal-Mart sell baby bottles that leach BPA, according to the report.

Reducing Your Child’s Exposure to BPA

The body that released this report, Environmental Defense suggests reducing a child’s exposure to Bisphenol A by:

• using glass bottles.
• using polypropylene bottles (#5 plastic).
• not using polycarbonates (hard, shiny, clear or tinted plastic, often #7 (PC).
• not washing polycarbonate bottles with harsh detergents or scouring brushes.
• not putting polycarbonate bottles in the dishwasher.
• not heating food in polycarbonate containers. Use glass or ceramic containers instead.
• avoiding infant formula canned in epoxy liners that contain BPA (http://www.ewg.org/reports/infantformula)
• avoiding canned foods (especially those with high fat content) and beverages to reduce exposure to Bisphenol A from the interior coating of the container.

By being more conscious of the containers our food and drinks arrives in, we can reduce our health risks and those our children face from the toxic chemical Bisphenol A by following the suggestions the Environmental Defense outlined above for bottle-nursing mothers, insuring health and well being for ours and our next generation.