The Debate Over BPA

There's a debate happening that you need to be aware of. It's over something called bisphenol A (BPA), which is a chemical widely used in plastic food and beverage containers and in food and beverage can linings. There are claims that the chemical is harmful and that it can leach into food and beverages.

BPA is an endocrine disrupter, which means it acts like a hormone, confusing the body's natural hormones. Some studies have linked exposure to the chemical to a variety of health problems, such as breast and prostate cancer, ADHD and autism, child obesity, decreased sperm count, and other reproductive, behavioral and developmental problems.

But critics of these studies say that the levels of bisphenol A that were used in the studies were too high to represent real-world situations. They point to other studies that show that the potential migration of the chemical into food and beverages is extremely low and that human exposure to the chemical from food and beverage containers is minimal and poses no known health risk.

The FDA has stated that due to the uncertainties raised in some studies relating to the potential effects of exposure to bisphenol A, additional research would be valuable. The agency has said it is moving forward with planned research to address the potential effects of the chemical. The agency has also stated that based on all available evidence, the present consensus among regulatory agencies in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Japan is that current levels of exposure to the chemical through food packaging do not pose an immediate health risk to the general population, including infants and babies.

The bottom line is that some level of exposure to BPA is harmful to humans, but it is still unclear what that level is. The chemical has a half-life in the human body of about six hours, but because we are continually exposed to it, nearly all of us have measurable blood levels of the chemical. The chemical is also just one of many endocrine disrupters that we are exposed to, and scientists are still trying to figure out how these endocrine disruptors collectively impact human health.

If you're concerned that you're ingesting too much BPA, here are five ways to reduce your exposure to the chemical:

• Consume fewer canned foods and beverages. Many cans are lined with chemical containing resin.
• Avoid plastic food and beverage containers with the number 7 recycling code, which usually contain the chemical.
• Don't microwave plastic food containers.
• Use glass, porcelain or stainless steel containers for hot foods and liquids.
• Use glass baby bottles or plastic baby bottles made without the chemical.