NEW Global Issues column debuts this month!
One World, by former Slightly Crunchy Parent columnist Lucky Tomaszek, takes a look at global issues through a local lens and focuses on living in the world with as little damanging impact as possible and facing the challenges our families and communities face environmentally, economically and ethically. Check it out this month, let us know what you think and come back to this blog often for updates, information and resources for living consciously on our planet. -ed.
BPA – you’re soaking in it
About ten years ago, I started hearing quiet murmurs about Teflon pots and pans, Styrofoam cups, plastic dishes and disposable flatware. They were just rumors, really. Things mentioned quietly, in passing. At first I ignored it. Then I started asking a few questions. None of the people doing the whispering really seemed to know a lot about it – they had all just heard similar rumors and were passing it on. Finally, I got a short summary. There were a few theories being tossed around about the safety of consuming hot foods and beverages using any of these kitchen supplies. Maybe it wasn’t as safe as it seemed.
A little online digging (in the very early days of the internet – pre-Google!) afforded me more parts of the rumors. The potential danger stemmed from the possibility that certain chemicals might be leached from the plastic by heat and absorbed by the macaroni and cheese or hot chai that was about to be ingested.
This concept rocked my whole world. If this theory was true, there were so many things I had been doing for years that could be dangerous. It didn’t seem possible to me – everyone I knew used Teflon and plastic spoons and Styrofoam cups. No one seemed to be suffering any ill effects. There were no cases of cancer, no ongoing or mysterious illnesses. I tried to dismiss it.
But the rumors persisted and I started noticing things. Like, how some of my plastic cups changed colors when I put hot cider in them, or how you could burn a hole clean through the layer of plastic wrap by overheating it in the microwave. I watched my food bubble up through those holes and realized it was entirely possible that whatever was in the plastic could be in my food. And though I didn’t know any of the science behind it, I knew that humans shouldn’t be eating plastic.
So, what’s the problem?
The theoretical risk is from one particular component of some plastics, bisphenol A (or BPA as it’s commonly known). BPA is used in almost every product that is made from clear, hard plastic. It is also used in to make non-stick coating for pots and pans. When it is heated, it begins to break down and release an environmental estrogen. This estrogen is then absorbed by the food or drink in the plastic, which in turn is ingested by you, me, our kids, the neighbors and pretty much everyone.
As most of us know, hormone balance for men and women is a pretty delicate thing. In general, a person’s body makes each hormone in the right amount to keep us up and running. When that balance gets upset, it can make a serious impact on our general well-being. In fact, there are so many things that could happen, it’s sometimes hard to take any of it seriously. It’s overwhelming to think that exposure to a specific chemical, in this case BPA, could be responsible for infertility, female cancers, male cancers, birth defects, spontaneous abortions, learning disabilities, mood disorders, low sperm count, hyperactivity, early puberty, obesity, small testes size and enlarged prostates.
Back and forth
I tried to keep up with research on the dangers of plastics, but it was difficult. Every six months or so, one researcher would announce that the last study was backwards, biased or in some other way flawed. However, in the last year, the arguments have changed slightly. Whereas the debate had always centered around whether or not BPA was dangerous, now it’s looking at how dangerous it is and under what circumstances.
Some researchers say that BPA doesn’t pose a risk unless it is old. They believe that you can tell when you’ve reached the expiration date on your water or baby bottle because it will start to get cloudy. At that point, you should discard the bottle. Other researchers insist the issue is temperature. They say that heating BPA causes the release of the hormone, so you’re moderately safe if you only use them for cold or temperate substances.
Though plastics manufacturers and the FDA want us all to feel safe using plastics containing BPA, the Canadian government has decided to take action. After reviewing 150 studies concerning the effects of BPA, they banned the use of the chemical in baby bottles. Currently in the U.S., 90% of baby bottles contain BPA and the Canadian pre-ban numbers were consistent with ours. This ban has led many plastics manufacturers to modify their products in preparation of a potential and more widespread ban.
Fortunately, we stand to benefit from Canada’s legal action despite the fact that our government refuses to follow suit. To simplify manufacturing and distribution, many companies have started replacing their BPA-containing goods with BPA-free ones. Also, many Americans heard about BPA for the first time because of Canada’s ban. The more people know, the more power they have to affect change at home.
At the beginning of this new year, I feel good about the decisions I made for my family a decade ago. Realistically, there is no way to completely avoid BPA (see below for a partial list of common products containing BPA). But lowering our exposure to something so potentially dangerous has got to help, even just a little. And for now, that’s all we can do. VS
