FDA DEEMS BPA SAFE
photo credit: Montgomery Cty Division of Solid Waste Services
In September ’08 a study was released stating that BPA (a chemical component in plastics such as baby bottles, toys, #7 containers, food packaging and dental sealants) may be a factor in various conditions in humans, some of which include diabetes and heart disease. However, FDA issued a statement deeming it safe, in spite of the fact that BPA is present on blood of 92% of Americans over the age of five.
Various government agencies and researchers have conducted numerous studies over the past year; some of them were published in journals such as “Environmental Health Perspectives” or “Journal of the American Medical Association”. The findings are that BPA imitates hormones and thus disrupts the brain processes, reproduction and metabolism as well as fetal development. Moreover, the latest study that links BPA levels in blood and urinary tracks to hear disease and diabetes was performed on 1,400 volunteers as opposed to previous similar studies that were done on rats and human tissue. Other findings show that the chemical stops the release of a crucial hormone preventing diabetes and other obesity-related conditions as well as affect the brain functions and behavior in fetuses, infants and children exposed to bisphenol-A.
Despite the wealth of research and data, FDA refuses to face the facts and force the companies to re-examine the use of BPA. Luckily, some of the private manufacturers are replacing BPA in their products with healthier alternatives. Unfortunately, majority is still putting bisphenol-A on the shelves of your local supermarket.
So what can we do to reduce the exposure to the toxic chemical? Here are a few tips:
- Avoid #7 plastic containers, dishes and utensils.
- Don’t microwave in plastic containers.
- Reduce the use of canned food, especially acidic such as tomatoes. The lining of most cans contains BPA and it has been found seeping into the food.
- Replace your plastic bottles with glass or stainless steel for food and drink.
- Get rid of all plastic containers if they are scratched or cloudy.
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[...] reasons (to find out more go to “Buying a New Plastic Container, part I & II” as well as “FDA Deems BPA Save” ) but mainly because it leeches BPA (bisphenol A), phthalates and other toxic chemicals into your [...]