Organic Products and Your Choices in Buying Organic
Organic Products and Your Choices in Buying Organic
About BPA: A Chemical We Encounter Daily
BPA is a term we hear often, but few know exactly what it is which can make it a challenge to understand how it impacts our lives and why we should care about it. BPA, which stands for bisphenol A, is an industrial chemical that has been in use since the 1960s to make certain plastics and resins such as polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins.
Polycarbonate plastics are often seen in food and beverage storage containers while epoxy resins are typically used to coat the inside of metal products (i.e., bottle tops, food cans, and water supply lines).
There has been much back and forth about the safety of BPA. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has stated that BPA is safe at low levels based on a review of hundreds of studies.
A non-peer reviewed study draft report funded by the government which was released in February 2018 by the National Toxicology Program backed this finding by concluding that the small amount of BPA released from food packaging and plastic is not harmful to health (Neal, 2019).
Yet there has also been research to demonstrate the risks of BPA exposure. Studies have shown links between exposure to BPA and health impacts on the brain and prostate gland of fetuses, infants, and children, as well as impacting the behavior of children. Additional research has shown links between increased blood pressure and exposure to BPA (Bauer, 2019).
The National Capital Poison Center noted that BPA becomes dangerous when it seeps out of products and leeches into food and drink containers that are made from the ingredient. This can happen when these containers are heated via a microwave or dishwasher, or if they are left in a heated environment (i.e., a vehicle) where the sun can cause BPA to leak into food and beverages that are exposed to the heat.
Granted, it was also noted by the National Capital Poison Center that exposure to BPA needed to be continual and over a period of years before it posed any harm (Neal, 2019).
This conflicting data can make it challenging to know whether or not BPA can be safely worked around or should be avoided altogether. Thus, many agree that more research and data is needed in this area in order to make a more firm determination. However, for those who find the evidence against BPA compelling or simply want to take steps to avoid or minimize exposure risks, there are some measures that can be taken such as (Bauer, 2019):
- Go BPA-free: Avoiding BPA altogether is a great way to limit potential toxin intake. Particularly avoiding plastics marked with recycle codes 3 or 7 is a strong way to limit this exposure.
- Use alternatives: Using glass, porcelain, ceramic or stainless steel containers as alternatives can help you to avoid BPA. Although it should be noted that other food packaging containers can possess synthetic materials that could also be harmful to people. Substitutes called BPS and diphenyl sulfone have been shown to have adverse effects that could last generations according to a 2018 study published in the journal Current Biology (Neal, 2019).
- Avoid heat: Putting plastics in the microwave or dishwasher can cause them to break down over time and allow for the release of BPA into food and beverage products.
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Mac Donoe, President
www.6StarLimo.com
(224) 302-6202
References:
Bauer, B. (2019, December 18). Tips to reduce BPA exposure. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/bpa/faq-20058331
Neal, B. (2019, March 4). Why should you care about BPA? The chemical may carry these health risks. Bustle. https://www.bustle.com/p/why-should-you-care-about-bpa-the-chemical-may-carry-these-health-risks-16428559
Mac Donoe is the President and CEO of https://6StarLimo.com “6 Star Limo Services” mission is to offer our customers fast and easy access with unbeatable prices for limousine and bus chauffeured transportation services in Northeastern Illinois and Southeastern Wisconsin!.
