A recent survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found traces of 212 environmental chemicals in Americans. Proof that, more than ever, the toxins in products that we are exposed to on a daily basis are finding their ways into our bodies. A major concern are the chemicals bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates - both key ingredients in plastics. Exposure to these chemicals, even in small quantities, may have potentially serious impacts on our health.
BPA is used to harden polycarbonate plastics and make epoxy resin, which is used in the lining of food and beverages. It has recently made headlines as a key ingredient in the manufacturing of baby bottles, but it is also found in water bottles and food packaging. Look for the recycling number "7" on the bottom of the plastics to identify polycarbonate plastic products. Products made of this synthetic material can break down - especially when washed or heated - and allow the chemical to leach into food or liquids and enter the body. The CDC reports that 93% of surveyed Americans over the age of 6 had some levels of BPA in their urine. Phthalates are found in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics (recycling number "3"), which are used in shampoo bottles, cosmetics, food packaging, shower curtains, and pipes. Phthalates can pass from the packaging into food, water, or cosmetics, and can also be emitted as a gas from curtains or pipes.
So what makes these chemicals so bad? BPA has been linked to reproductive problems, neurobehavioral problems, genital defects, and even cancer. Phthalates have been shown to disrupt hormones, reduce sperm counts, advance breast development in girls, and are linked to behavioral problems and genital abnormalities such as undescended testicles and smaller penises. Limiting exposure to these chemicals is especially important in pregnant women and infants, when children are still in the early stages of development.
The problem in the past has been the regulation of these chemicals. If you were to propose a new drug for use on the market, multiple tests and studies would be needed to convince the FDA that it was safe. The opposite is true for the use of a new chemical in a product. It is essentially deemed safe until the EPA can prove that it is dangerous- a task that takes years and hundreds of thousands of dollars. And in recent years, Washington has done little to support the EPA's regulation of these dangerous chemicals. Researchers began raising concerns about the safety of BPA in the late 1990s, but the FDA reviewed BPA under the Bush Administration (relying almost solely on industry-funded studies of course) and deemed it safe. The good news is, change is coming. For those of you who think the only thing Obama has done during his presidency is pass a controversial health care bill, read on. In March, the Obama Administration launched a $30 million study into BPA, leading the EPA to
add BPA to it's list of chemicals of concern and requiring testing related to environmental effects. Meanwhile, new legislation is expected that would strengthen federal chemical regulation and help EPA issue restrictions on dangerous chemicals.
The government has taken the first step and my hope is that eventually the burden is shifted to the manufacturing companies to prove that chemicals in their products are safe. Some major retailers have already banned the sale of baby bottles containing BPA, but they are still readily available. For now, it is up to the consumer to purchase BPA- and phthalate-free products. Many bottles and containers clearly advertise that they are "BPA-free" while other times you may have to be more diligent. Be careful not to let water bottles and food wrapped in plastic be exposed to warm temperatures (never drink water from a plastic bottle after it has been sitting in your car). Use reusable glass or metal containers to carry beverages when possible. And whatever you do, NEVER microwave food or drinks in a plastic container - including tupperware. Be a smart and informed consumer - and limit your exposure to these toxic chemicals.
