BPA Exposure is it really dangerous? BPA or Bisphenol A is the chemical used in making hard plastics and containers that store foods and beverages. It is essential in manufacturing varieties of products including water bottles, dental fillings baby bottles, sealants, medical devices, dental devices, eyeglass lenses, DVDs and CDs, sports equipment among others.
So what danger does BPA exposure brings? BPA according to Medical News Today disrupts the endocrine system. It hampers the production, transport, secretion, function, action, and elimination of natural hormones.
BPA has been used in the food packaging industry since the 1960s. It is a major constituent in making beverage bottles and metal can coatings. Since the food and other drinks are in direct contact with the packaging material, studies have shown that the chemical can mixed up with food and consumed by humans.
Due to BPA exposure increasing threat and its use have called for public awareness, many studies were done investigating the safety side of the use of BPA in the packaging materials. They said that low levels of BPA can be ingested and could pose great health risks.
In order to arrest the issue, the National Toxicology Program, and FDA's National Center for Toxicological Research are launching studies to investigate the safety of BPA.
Some studies have found BPA exposure is a big risk to health affecting the behavior, brain, and prostate gland of fetuses, infants and children.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration vie that BPA "is safe at the current levels occurring in foods," Laura Vandenberg, PhD, an assistant professor of environmental health science at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst said. "Everyone is exposed to this chemical every day."
With increasing BPA exposure as most of the convenient foods are now stored in BPA cans and bottles, here are certain guidelines that you can do to limit BPA exposure:
Skip canned goods as much as you can
Each canned good is lined with plastics inside. Without it, the can will corrode and will affect the food. The lining inside the can is made up of BPA which increase the risk to one's health. To limit your BPA exposure, go for natural foods instead of canned goods.
There are also companies that don't use BPA such as Muir Glen Eden Organics, and Amy's.
Instead of plastic containers, you can use porcelain, glass or stainless steel to store foods.
Microwave is prohibited in plastics
BPA makes the plastic containers sturdier. When you microwave, heat breakdowns the BPA in plastics that makes you more exposed to BPA chemical.
Stick with BPA-free bottles
When buying water bottles, check if it is BPA-free. Since 2012, FDA prohibits BPA in baby bottles and cups to avoid child's BPA exposure.