BPA Blog Posts

There has been much buzz in the news regarding the potential link between the hormone-disrupting chemical BPA and early onset puberty in girls, female infertility and breast cancer. There is also reason to believe that BPA is harmful to boys. A study published in 2010 by Kaiser Permanente Northern California links increased levels of BPA with male infertility. Although this isn’t a new study, it has recently been covered in the news.

Past studies conducted on mice and rats have shown that BPA negatively affects the male reproductive system. This most recent study by Kaiser Permanente, conducted over a period of five years, is among the first to explore the relationship between BPA in the human body and decreased fertility. Outlined below are some of their findings: Read more...

We know this isn't new information for everyone, but for some, it's another shocker where unwanted chemicals creep into our lives. The little slip of paper that we often absent-mindedly take from a cashier or an ATM, and stuff into our purses or pockets, is often covered with the endocrine-disrupting chemical BPA and can be easily absorbed through the skin.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG), explains the use of BPA in receipts, "Thermal paper is widely used for point-of-sale receipts, prescription labels, airline tickets and lottery tickets. Thermal printers use paper that is coated with a dye and developer (BPA or an alternative chemical). Heat from the thermal printing head triggers a reaction between the dye and developer, allowing the black print to appear". Read more...

The Atlantic published an article by Elizabeth Grossman yesterday which is one of the best summaries we have seen tying together the ubiquity of BPA, the potential risks posed by BPA, the challenges of eliminating BPA, and the lack of research that has been done on the rush of new plastics that are coming to market that are BPA-free. It is that last portion that we bolded that really caught our attention.

To outline the concern, the author focused on one popular BPA-free plastic replacement called Tritan. As she calls out in the article, the point is not to pick on Tritan but instead to use it as an illustration of the broader problem. Here are a few quotes:

 Read more...

Another important study came out this week again reinforcing the importance of avoiding the hormone-disrupting chemical BPA.  The good news is there are easy ways to go about this including eating fresh food and using safe food storage containers.  Below is a summary of the study and tips on how to reduce your exposure to BPA. Read more...

You've heard of BPA, and probably have a stainless steel water bottle, or BPA free versions for you and your family.  If not, you can get many snazzy ones here at MightyNest.  But how about canned foods?  We know there is BPA in most cans, but how much?  And as much as we try to eliminate canned goods from a healthy diet, this is no easy task for busy working families.

A new study released recently tested the level of BPA in canned foods, and it contains several important findings.  This has been done before, back in 1996, and the amounts of BPA in canned food has increased significantly since then.  In fact, many of the foods had up to 5 times the amounts found back in 1996.  Of the 50 cans that were tested in the study, 46 were found to contain significant amounts of BPA.  There was no difference in brands, the states they came from, the amount of time they were in the pantry, or type of food they contained.  Even the same brands, with different batches, yielded different BPA levels.   Read more...

In another move where states are taking the lead role in chemical reform and safety, the Vermont senate has voted to ban BPA in sippy cups, water bottles, infant formula, and food containers.  Now the bill heads to the house. The Times Argus reports that:

"Senators voted 25-1 to begin banning the use of Bisphenol A in reusable water bottles starting in the spring of 2012, and its use in packaging for items such as liquid infant formula and baby food in spring 2014."

I am happy that the Vermont Senate chose to protect children instead of the chemical lobby.  I received a late call from a leader at VPIRG, calling on parents to show up to vote down an amendment to weaken the law.  The chemical industry was out in force, trying to convince legislators to vote for the weaker, more limited bill.  But consumer advocates, parents and children won out.  I wasn't able to go, but many showed up to demonstrate their support for banning BPA.  Read more...

Can I get a hallelujah?

Last week, the FDA did an about face about BPA, issuing new action steps and plans to reduce human exposure to BPA. 

After stating BPA's safety for years, the FDA announced its new plans to limit the chemical.   Here is an overview from the FDA about their plans:

FDA is taking reasonable steps to reduce human exposure to BPA in the food supply. These steps include: 

*supporting the industry’s actions to stop producing BPA-containing baby bottles and infant feeding cups for the U.S. market;
-facilitating the development of alternatives to BPA for the linings of infant formula cans; and
-supporting efforts to replace BPA or minimize BPA levels in other food can linings. 

*FDA is supporting a shift to a more robust regulatory framework for oversight of BPA.

*FDA is seeking further public comment and external input on the science surrounding BPA. Read more...

Never fear - my purging spree is not over! And this next challenge couldn't have come at a more perfect time.

Eco-Challenge #12: Research and replace any unsafe sippy cups with non-toxic alternatives

As I mentioned in my last post, the boys have pretty much given up the bottle. Down to just one at bedtime which is more ritual than anything. While my days of bottle washing are practically history, I'm not out of the woods yet. Now I have to deal with SIPPY CUPS! EVERYWHERE! I don't know about you, but my collection is looking a little tattered. Missing tons of those little pesky inserts (maybe they're off with the socks from the dryer??) and the tops rarely match up with the bottoms. Yes, it's always something with me... Read more...