Most plastics these days are branded “BPA-free,” as you’ve probably noticed. However, you might be asking what that implies and why it matters. Bisphenol-A (BPA) is an industrial chemical that is utilized in the production of plastics and is found in many commercial products such as food containers, infant bottles, hygiene products, plastic water bottles and other BPA plasticware.
It has been used to make tough and durable polymers for packaged foods and home kitchen usage since the 1960s. Some individuals are concerned about BPA’s tendency to leak into meals and beverages, and studies indicate that BPA exposure can cause a variety of health issues. This brief article examines BPA and its potential health consequences in depth.
Why Is BPA Causing Worry Among Some People?
Many people are concerned about BPA poisoning. BPA can leach out of drink and/or food containers and then into the beverages and foods that you consume, which is one of the main causes of this issue. This is especially true for foods and beverages that can be stored for lengthy periods of time in BPA-containing containers, such as bottled water or certain canned goods. Heat can cause extra BPA to seep out of plastic, therefore dishes intended to be microwaved in a plastic bowl or drinks microwaved in a plastic cup fall under this category.
BPA exposure is so common that most people over age 6 have detectable levels of BPA in their urine, according to study. According to one study, 85 percent of Korean youngsters under the age of two had detectable BPA levels in their urine. BPA exposure has been linked to a variety of health problems, in part because it resembles the function and structure of the hormone estrogen. BPA can attach to estrogen receptors and affect body functions like development, cell repair, embryo development, metabolism, and fertility. Furthermore, BPA may react with other hormone receptors, including those in your thyroid, causing them to malfunction.
Exposure To BPA And Safe Levels
According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), daily exposures compared with fewer than 2.25 milligrams per pound (5 mg per kg) of your body weight are safe. The average person is only subjected to 0.1-2.2 micrograms per pound (0.2-0.5 micrograms per kg) every day.
Even though the FDA barred manufacturers from using BPA in infant baby bottles, sippy cups, and formula cans in 2012, the FDA still recognizes BPA as a safe addition in food packaging. Regardless, new research reveals that BPA exposure may produce or lead to a range of health problems, even at defined “safe” levels. Still, further research is needed to determine whether there is a definite safe threshold for exposure to BPA or whether it can harm people at any level of exposure.
What Goods Are Known To Contain BPA?
BPA is found in a variety of items:
- Plastic containers are used to package items.
- Foods in cans
- Toiletries
- Menstrual supplies
- Receipts from thermal printers
- DVDs and CDs
- Consumer electronics
- Spectacle lenses
- Sporting goods
- Sealants for dental fillings
- Certain drinking water pipes are lined with BPA-containing epoxy resins
Containers that may include BPA are usually labeled with the recycling codes 3 or 7.
BPA Pay Impact Male And Female Fertility
BPA may act upon estrogen receptors in males and females to induce inflammation or cause cell damage through oxidative stress as a phytoestrogen or plant-based substance that mimics estrogen.
Damage can appear in a variety of ways. Male mice given BPA-treated drinking water exhibited lower testosterone levels, poorer sperm quality, and higher infertility than mice given ordinary drinking water in one study. Researchers have also discovered that BPA decreases fertility in female mice by lowering the hormone estradiol, lowering the quantity of healthy eggs, and impairing the capacity of a fertilized egg to implant in the uterus.
Exposure to BPA appears to excessively age the female reproductive system, triggering hormone alterations and decreased fertility, according to the concept of “precocious maturation.” In animal research, BPA has been associated with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis.
Although such impacts are noteworthy, further research is required to add to the body of data. Because much of the data we have comes from mouse research, it’s not always clear how BPA impacts human fertility.
Other Health Issues May Also Arise
BPA and other plastics may be linked to birth abnormalities and childhood health problems, in addition to infertility. Because plastics can travel through the placenta and breast milk, they can affect healthy embryonal, fetal, or juvenile growth in a variety of ways.
Because developing fetuses are unable to break down BPA, they are more vulnerable to exposure. According to some data, BPA exposure during pregnancy can alter gene expression, which could lead to a number of health issues, along with a higher risk of developing conditions such as obesity and metabolic disorders. BPA exposure at low levels has also been related to the development of diseases such as colon cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, and breast cancer.
Furthermore, test-tube studies suggest that BPA may reduce the effectiveness of chemotherapeutic treatments. However, keep in mind that further study is needed to establish a strong understanding of BPA’s impacts on humans.
How Can You Reduce Your Risk?
While additional research is needed, BPA appears to be connected to certain harmful consequences. You may want to restrict your BPA exposure. Although it may be impossible to totally eradicate it, there are some practical techniques to decrease your exposure:
- Limit your intake of non-BPA-free packaged goods. Eat largely complete, fresh meals. Limit canned goods and foods in plastic containers with recycling numbers 3 or 7 on the label. However, as we’ll see later, BPA-free packaging might not be an effective answer.
- Use glass bottles for drinking. Instead of plastic cans or bottles, buy liquids in glass bottles, and use glass baby bottles rather than plastic ones.
- Choose your toys carefully.
- Make sure any plastic toys that you purchase for your kids are BPA-free, especially those that they will chew or suck on.
- Avoid microwaving plastic. Because heating BPA-containing plastics can induce greater BPA leaching, store and microwave food in glass instead of plastic.
Discover A Safer Solution
Given the data, it’s best to take precautions to reduce your BPA exposure. Pregnant women, in particular, may profit greatly from avoiding BPA, particularly during the first trimester. Others, on the other hand, should not be concerned if they occasionally drink from a plastic container or eat from a can. However, switching from plastic to glass or stainless steel containers is a minor change that can help your health in the long run. You’ll instantly limit your BPA exposure if you eat fresh, unprocessed, and minimally processed meals.
Kangovou has a wide variety of BPA-free products for smarter and safer storage of your food and leftovers. Browse their BPA-free product inventory or contact Kangovou today to learn more about their BPA-free containers.
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