BPA
Re-using plastic packaging has always been encouraged in order to reduce wastage and better the environment. Re-filling water bottles and re-using take away containers are common in most households and done without a second thought on health implications. Rumours are starting to air however that this once good-habit might be taking its toll on our health.
The chemical surrounding the great debate is Bisphenol A (BPA), a component in Lexan polycarbonate resin. It was used to make DVDs, sunglasses, computers, water bottles, baby bottles and in lining of food and drink cans – basically any hard, clear plastic product. Used in quite a few products we regularly come in to contact with, it’s unsettling to hear that the National Institutes of Health and the Environmental Protection Agency, US, have found that people living in more developed countries are exposed to BPA levels greater than those proven to harm lab animals. This same review also linked BPA to increasing the risk of cancer however this has yet to be proven elsewhere.
The most commonly discussed side effects of BPA consumption relates to its belonging to a group of substances called ‘endocrine disruptors’. These substances act in a similar way to hormones with some studies on laboratory animals suggesting that low levels of (consumed) BPA may have an effect on the reproductive system, cause early onset puberty in girls, neural and behavioural development in foetuses, infants and children, obesity, thyroid malfunction and attention disorders. Depending on the BPA levels found in a person’s urine, the UK research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association 2008 linked BPA consumption to an increased risk of diabetes and heart disease.
With many studies and tests being conducted throughout the world, BPA has yet to be officially banned for usage due to the fact that there is no conclusive evidence of its effects on humans with current low-level consumption. This being said, quite a few countries (Canada, Denmark, France, selected US states) have taken the initiative, banning polycarbonate baby bottles or have legislation pending. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recently completed a review of the scientific literature for BPA and determined a maximum daily ‘safe limit’. In adults, the estimated daily intake from canned foods and beverages would be about 5% of the ‘safe limit’.
Certainly a growing concern, the BPA issue is one to be aware of. Whilst you shouldn’t hesitate to purchase a bottle of water, be aware of how many times it is re-filled. It never hurts to be cautious, limiting the bottle’s usage to one, before letting the recycling bin do the rest would be the recommended approach. Placing hot food into plastic containers or heating food in the microwave in a plastic container should be kept to a minimum. Using pyrex, ceramic or glass in this scenario is the safest alternative.
