BPA Free Plastic is Cancerous!

Due to health-conscious mentally, we, the parents always go for BPA-free plastics to keep our children safe, and now there's a huge expose out that says maybe BPA wasn't the worst thing hiding in our baby bottles, plates, water bottles and sippy cups!

We all probably know that the commercial chemical BPA, or bisphenol-A, is a toxic nasty that could interrupt the endocrine system and cause all sorts of problems for our children. If you are not familiar with BPA, let me tell you what is BPA. 

Bisphenol A or BPA, is a chemical produced in large quantities primarily for use in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. Here’s the kicker – it was originally designed as a synthetic form of estrogen and used in hormone replacement therapy. However, somewhere along the line scientists discovered that it could help make plastics hard and clear, and thenceforth, the floodgates were opened. 

And why is BPA bad? Since BPA mimics estrogen, it can impact your endocrine system – hence the name “endocrine disruptor.” There are literally hundreds upon hundreds of research studies published in the most respectable peer-reviewed scientific journals linking this little toxic chemical to a plethora of chronic conditions; obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and reproductive abnormalities to mention a few.

Nowadays, every plastic widget is so-called BPA free.  BPA free water bottles, BPA free sippy cups, BPA free baby bottles, BPA free blenders,etc. In one sense, this awareness is a pretty significant development in the right direction. However, the problem with plastics is that even those that are BPA free may still contain BPA or some other estrogen mimicking chemicals.

Yes! BPA-free plastic is also cancerous as it releases toxic without heat after several washing! 

The scientific study that found "some BPA-free products actually released synthetic estrogens that were more potent than BPA," and even shares the results of lab testing on BPA-free sippy cups. A quarter of the tested cups, the kinds purchased at major retailers, tested positive for what they call "estrogenic activity."

Sounds scary, doesn't it?

The plastics study from the University of Texas-Austin recently published in the NIH journal Environmental Health Perspectives, "almost all" plastics that were tested leached synthetic estrogens, including the BPA-free products out on the market.

Is this any worse than BPA itself?

Not worse, necessarily, but not better either! The primary reason moms -- and many companies -- have moved away from BPA is the feared risks to the endocrine system. The National Toxicology Program has expressed “some concern" for effects on the brain, behavior, and prostate gland in fetuses, infants, and children exposed to BPA.

So if BPA-free products are truly leaching chemicals that are just as risky, then it stands to reason our kids are STILL at risk, despite moms' best efforts.

Where is this stuff hiding?

The short answer is in "most" BPA-free plastic, at least according to the study out of the University of Texas-Austin. More specifically, according to the researchers' tests:

• 70 percent of HDPE plastic (a hard plastic use to make baby bottles, milk jugs, ice cube trays, etc. -- the acronym for the type of plastic can typically be found on the bottom of the container) tested positive for synthetic estrogens.
• 75 percent of PET or PETE plastic (a more pliable plastic used to make water and soda bottles) tested positive for synthetic estrogens.
• 68 percent of PP plastic (a heat-resistant plastic used to make baby bottles, sippy cups, and reusable food storage containers) tested positive for synthetic estrogens.
• 55 percent of PS plastic (a hard plastic used for making dishes, drinking glasses and food packaging) tested positive for synthetic estrogens.
• 91 percent of PLA plastics (a plastic used to make disposable forks and spoons, yogurt cups, and takeout containers) tested positive for synthetic estrogens.
• Other plastics are out there but have not yet been tested.

How can we protect our kids?

 5 tips on how to stay BPA free

1. Avoid all forms of plastic food containers whenever possible. Glass, stainless steel or porcelain should become your new best friends in the kitchen.
2. Avoid canned foods. That can of corn may not only be from GMO crop, it may also come with a dollop of BPA –based epoxy resin – the stuff used line the insides of most canned goods. If you have to eat from a can, there are several good BPA free options out there. Edens Foods is a popular one  
3. Increase your consumption of raw fruits and vegetables. Eating fresh fruits and veggies enables better detoxification of numerous toxic compounds including endocrine disruptors such as BPA. Based on scientific studies, broccoli, grapefruit, and apples are a great place to start
4. If plastic is the only option for a particular utensil or appliance, make sure it is not marked with the 3, 6 or 7 recycle codes. These 2 codes (flexible PVC or Polycarbonate respectively) indicate a possible presence of phthalates or BPA in the plastic
5. Also, if you find yourself forced to use plastic food containers, avoid microwaving them at all costs. BPA is more likely to leach at higher temperatures

Glass is One of the Best Alternatives
You may not be able to move away from all plastics because they are ubiquitous on the market, but where possible, but if you're interested in avoiding any number of chemical toxins leaching into your food and beverages, choose glass over plastic, especially when it comes to products that will come into contact with food or beverages, or those intended for pregnant women, infants and children. This applies to canned goods as well, which are a major source of BPA (and possibly other chemicals) exposure, so whenever you can, choose jarred goods over canned goods, or opt for fresh instead. Another good idea is to ditch plastic teething toys for your little ones and choose natural wood or fabric varieties instead.

To be fair, you probably can no longer completely eliminate your exposure to BPA, BPS and similar toxins (since they're likely in our air, water, and food, too) but you can certainly reduce your exposure dramatically by making informed choices like those described above.