The bisphenol A (BPA) story is not yet over. More revelations about this chemical found in plastics are coming in as scientists are stepping up on BPA research. The recent undesirable BPA effect is female infertility and this was reported by Yale University researchers at the recent meeting of the Endocrine Society.

The Yale researchers have observed that when pregnant mice were exposed to BPA, the genetic chemistry of their female offspring is irreversibly altered. The researchers have the identified the gene in question as HOXA10, which regulates the normal development of the uterus and fertility, not only in mice, but also in humans. BPA sometimes plays havoc with the gene’s switching on and off. They can conceive but their ability to carry the pregnancy to full term is compromised, leading to permanent fertility loss.

In a way, this doesn’t surprise me, considering that BPA is an endocrine disruptor and mimics the effect of estrogen, and therefore plays havoc with hormonal balance.

However, this isn’t the only bad news about BPA.

University of Cincinnati researchers reported irregular heart rhythms in female mice (but not male!) exposed to BPA.

Now, if ever health authorities claim again that current BPA exposure is too low to cause these effects, University of Missouri-Columbia experts will definitely show their new estimate that BPA exposure among Americans is much higher that the so-called maximum safe dose.

These recent findings are alarming themselves but what concerns me are the following:

• Babies in the uterus are exposed and possibly already damaged by BPA even before they are born.
• Females seem to be strongly affected by BPA, because of its capacity to mimic estrogen.

In other words, BPA is affecting our reproductive cycle and will be affecting or has already affected the next generation of mothers.

The scientists at the Endocrine Society Meeting issued a scientific statement declaring that BPA and other endocrine-disrupting chemicals in food, water and consumer products represent a “significant concern to public health.”

I really hope that the health authorities are listening.

Another victory for American consumers! On June 2, the state of California Senate voted to ban bisphenol A (BPA) from the packaging of baby food and beverage products. You remember BPA, right? It’s that carcinogenic, endocrine disruptor compound found to leach out from plastic bottles (including baby bottles!) and food packaging (including baby formula!).

Well, it seems that the Toxics-Free Babies and Toddlers Act (SB 797) of California will finally put an end to the use of this chemical in the manufacture of plastics and plastic-containing products. At least until the Act goes through the State Assembly. The legislation is also known as the Pavley Bill as it was introduced by Senator Fran Pavley.

The industry lobbyists did try their best to sway the Senate’s decision in their favor but it the end, the Senate members acted rationally based on the mounting scientific evidence that BPA is detrimental to our health. According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), research studies have linked BPA exposure to the following diseases and health problems:

• Breast cancer

• Heart disease

• Birth defects

• Prostate cancer

• Infertility

• Premature puberty in girls

• Diabetes

• Obesity

California is the not the first state to ban BPA. Earlier this year, Minnesota, then Connecticut set the precedence. It is expected that more states will follow. This is despite the fact that the US FDA has declared the levels of BPA in the food and beverages are very low and considered to be harmless.

As Breast Cancer Fund Gretchen Lee Salter policy manager rightly said “…kids had to come first before the lobbyists.” Indeed, with the Pavley Bill, this is exactly what happened.

It was “a major public health victory” according to Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal in a press release. He is referring to the pledge made by America’s top six baby bottle companies to stop using Bisphenol-A (BPA) in their manufacturing process of baby bottles.

He has the right to feel elated as many other anti-BPA advocates in North America. If we backtrack, BPA was a big thing last year when it was found out that this chemical used in the manufacturing of polycarbonate plastics is leaching out into the drinks and other food products. The Canadian regulatory body Health Canada made the unprecedented move to ban BPA in baby bottles in autumn last year. However, the US FDA claimed that BPA concentrations present in food products are too low to cause any real harm despite “concerns” expressed in a report by the National Institute of Health’s National Toxicology Program. According to the NTP report, BPA exposure may have possibly affect reproductive, neurological and immune systems. Other studies have linked BPA to cardiovascular disease, kidney problems, and diabetes.

However, the BPA issue was overshadowed by the melamine scandal and more recently by the peanut butter recalls.

Blumenthal and his counterparts in the states of Delaware and New Jersey wrote a letter to the baby bottle companies last year urging them to stop using BPA. The good news was received earlier this month. Six companies – Avent, Disney First Years, Gerber, Dr. Brown, Playtex and Evenflow – voluntarily agreed to phase out BPA from their manufacturing process of baby bottles and sippy cups.

Hurrah! This is one health issue where North America is far ahead of Europe!

I am not an alarmist so when the news about bisphenol A (BPA) broke, although I became wary of plastics, I didn’t do anything about it. But the latest bad news, including a report by the National Toxicology Program of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, cannot be ignored. BPA exposure can cause a lot of health problems ranging from cancer, hormonal disorders and heart diseases. So there I was, googling my way through a plethora of information on plastics in order to protect myself and my family. Here is what I’ve found out:

Not all plastics are created equal

Not all plastics contain BPA. There are 7 classes of plastics used as packaging and in most cases, you can actually see which type of plastic you have. If you turn over the plastic cup you are holding, you will see a triangular recycling symbol at the bottom. In addition, there is a number at the center of the symbol and letters below the symbol. The number indicates which type of plastic your cup is made and the letters are usually abbreviations of the plastic names.

According to this table provided by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), the seven types of plastics are:

Sources: plastics industry Web sites, CSPI; wikipedia

BPA is found in most but not all Type 7 plastics, according to CSPI. Wikipedia says BPA is found in Type 7 and Type 3 plastics. The other 4 types are supposedly BPA-free.

It’s all in the packaging

Now, the packaging of your food may give you the nutritional facts but does not necessary tell you the components of the materials. Some cans, for example, are lined with plastic that contains BPA. So if in doubt, check out these recommendations from the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI):

• Go for frozen instead of canned food.
• Drink softdrinks in BPA-free polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles. PET bottles are the easiest plastic to recycle. Protect yourself and protect the environment.
• Go for foodstuff packed in aseptic cardboard rather than plastic boxes.
• Go for fresh food whenever possible, without the plastic wrapping, of course.Fresh food is healthier and more environmentally friendly.
• Do not put plasticware in the dishwasher or the microwave oven.

Finally, why not just get rid of all your Type 3 and Type 7 plasticware- You’d be better off with glass or porcelain.

Download this helpful brochure from CSPI!

Bisphenol A is a chemical present in plastics used to make, amongst other things, baby bottles and sippy cups. The effects Bisphenol A, or BPA, might have on our health has been of concern for years, and is at last getting attention from the heath authorities in the US.

BPA mimics the effects of reproductive hormones in the body. Animal studies have shown BPA damages rat eggs and chromosomes, and predisposes laboratory animals to certain cancers.

Bottle manufacturers have tried to play down evidence from animal studies, saying that it’s not possible to prove BPA is harmful in babies just by looking at lab rats. Until now, no conclusive studies have ever shown that BPA is harmful to humans.

A study released today from Exeter University in the United Kingdom has found that adults with high levels of BPA in their bodies have higher rates of certain diseases: heart disease, diabetes, and liver disease. People with the highest levels of BPA were three times as likely to suffer from heart disease. The study examined adults, not babies, but serious effects in adults can’t be ignored as easily as health problems in laboratory animals.

Canada is already doing something about the problem of BPA. Canadian legislation is set to ban BPA in baby bottles sold in the country.

The results of the Exeter University study will now be examined by the Food and Drug Administration who will decide if any action needs to be taken in the US.

Whatever the FDA decides, major retailers like Target, Walmart and Babies-R-Us have already taken action. Many retailers have responded to parental demands for BPA-free bottles, and have stopped selling, or are in the process of phasing out BPA-containing bottles.

It’s not publicized by the company, but Babies-R-Us will refund or exchange BPA bottles, including used bottles, and even without a receipt. If you bought your baby’s bottles from Babies-R-Us, and they are the type which contain BPA, Babies R Us will give you a store credit or exchange them for bottles without BPA. As it’s not an official program, you might need to speak to a manager to get an exchange for your old bottles, but I know several moms who have replaced their entire bottle collection with BPA-free bottles at Babies-R-Us.

And, here’s a list of BPA-free baby bottles and sippy cups.

Remember bisphenol A or BPA, that chemical that lead to plastic bottle recalls in Canada earlier this year? Remember it has been found to be present in many other products including canned foods, plastic dental braces, and yes – our baby bottles? Well, finally, the health authorities are paying attention.

According to a report by the National Toxicology Program of the U.S. National Institutes of Health releases earlier this month, there is reason for “some concerns” that BPA might be linked to harmful health effects ranging from prostate and brain cancer to behavioral effects in infants and children. There is also “minimal concern” about BPA effects on breast development and early puberty in female children. The final report can be viewed here. An audio file on NIH radio by NIH toxicologists can also be heard here.

In the meantime, a Subcommittee of the Science Board to the US FDA is due to meet on September 16 to discuss BPA.

The view on BPA’s harmful effects is quite mixed, according to this article in Reuters. Canada has announced plans to ban BPA in baby and children products. Some American states are seriously considering to follow suit. Surprisingly, the European Union thinks otherwise. In a BPA update last July, the European Food Safety Authority declared that BPA the human body can quickly metabolize BPA and eliminate the chemical from the body, including newborn infants. The health risks due to BPA exposure are therefore minimal, according to EFSA.

Now, consumers, speak out. What do you think?

Unless you’ve been living in a cave, you’ll have heard all about Bisphenol A, or BPA, the potentially harmful chemical found in many baby bottles and sippy cups. And probably, you’ve been wondering why the government allows baby bottles to contain BPA.

Several manufacturers, like Playtex and Nalgen, are phasing out BPA-containing products, due to customer demand. Playtex is offering a free BPA-free bottle liner on it’s website to promote it’s BPA-free products. And stores like Wal-Mart are planning to stop selling BPA-containing products by early 2009.

The Canadian governement is going one step further, and is in the process of legislation that will outright ban the sale of bottles containing BPA.

BPA is a chemical that mimics the effect of hormones in the body. It’s been proven to cause damage to rat and mouse eggs and chromosomes, and predispose them to certain cancers. No studies have ever conclusively shown BPA to cause damage in humans, but since it is clearly harmful to lab rats, who wants to take chances with our babies?

Here in the US, the federal National Toxicology Program is studying the chemical, and their preliminary reports agree that BPA may be linked to serious problems in humans. Let’s hope that the US government follows Canada’s lead, and BPA is banned here too.

Here`s a new development to the issue of bisphenol A (BPA) contamination.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) is now advising pregnant and breastfeeding women (as well as their babies) to minimize exposure to this suspected carcinogen and endocrine-disruptive substance. A previous post reported about drinking bottles taken off from store shelves due to BPA. The current warning indicated its`s not only polycarbonate hard plastics that`s involved. BPA may also be found in epoxy resin-lined metal cans containing soups, vegetable preserves and other food products.

CSPI gives the following recommendations to consumers:
? Buy fresh or frozen food products.
? Parents should make sure that their children are using BPA-free formula bottles and sippie cups.
? Food manufacturers should completely eliminate BPA from their packaging.

Exposure to BPA is suspected to cause cancer and reproductive disorders. Although there is currently little toxicological data available, many experts are concerned about BPA`s effect on children`s development and health.

Source:

CSPI Newsroom, 2 April 08

Drinking water bottles were taken off from the shelves in Canada in December and caused concerns worldwide. The panic was due to an article in Toxicology Letters which was first published online on November 2007 and in print on January 2008. The article reports on the chemical bisphenol A (PBA) which is used in the manufacture of plastics. PBA mimics the hormone estrogen and is supposedly carcinogenic.
The research tested whether PBA is being released into the bottle contents during use. The results show that indeed, drinks in these plastic bottles are being contaminated by PBA regardless of whether the bottle is new or used. In addition, the release of PBA goes faster when temperatures are higher (such as boiling water). The released substance into the water was tested in the lab and found to be toxic to brain cells.
Although Nalgene bottles were the most publicized brand to be taken off the shelves, other brands were actually involved as well. In fact, PBA is present in all plastics with polycarbonates and epoxy resins – including plastic dental braces, food packaging, and your baby`s formula bottles. And each time you sterilize those bottles or fill them with hot milk, you are actually releasing PBA.
We live in a plastic society. Plastic is very popular because it is strong, sturdy and unlike good old glass, unbreakable. But through plastic, we are actually exposed to dubious chemicals such as PBA – every day. According to the FDA, the amount of PBA released into the drinks is too low to cause any real harm. Do we want to risk it?

Source:
Le HH, Carlson EM, Chua JP, Belcher SM., 2008. Bisphenol A is released from polycarbonate drinking bottles and mimics the neurotoxic actions of estrogen in developing cerebellar neurons. Toxicol Lett. 2008 Jan 30;176(2):149-56. Epub 2007 Nov 19.