BPA
It could be in the plastic in that impact-resistant baby bottle or spill-proof toddler “Sippy” cup, or the water bottle you drink on your walks, or the plastic storage containers in which you stow your leftovers, or the plastic knives, forks, and spoons you occasionally use, or the dental sealant in your mouth. It’s also in the inside linings of just about every food or soda can. So it’s no surprise that bisphenol A, or BPA, is in the bloodstream of nearly every person in the United States. And studies in animals suggest that, at least for fetuses, infants, and children, BPA may be harmful.
How to Minimize Your Exposure to BPA
· Avoid plastic containers made of polycarbonate. Any bottle or container made of polycarbonate has the No. 7 on the bottom. But the number can also appear on plastics that don’t contain BPA.
· When possible, prepare or store food- especially hto foods and liquids – in glass, porcelain, or stainless steel dishes or containers.
· If you have polycarbonate plastic food containers, don’t microwave them. The detergent may break down the plastic, which could release BPA.
· Use instant formula bottles that are made of glass or BPA-free plastic. BornFree (newbornfree.com) is one of many companies that make them.
· When you can, replace canned foods with foods that are fresh, frozen, or packaged in aseptic (shelf-stable) boxes. At least one manufacturer – Eden Foods- lines its cans with BPA alternative made from plant extracts.
· A good alternative to polycarbonate is polyethylene terephthalate (PETE), which has the recycling No. 1 on the bottom.
· Avoid older versions of Delton dental sealant. (Dental sealants are plastic resins that a dentist bonds into the grooves of the chewing surface of a tooth to help prevent cavities. Delton is made by DENTSPLY International of York, Pennsylvania.) Most dental sealants are free of BPA. However, older Delton sealants contain a compound that breaks down into BPA, mostly during the first day after it comes into contact with saliva. The newer Delton Plus (or Delton+) sealants don’t contain the compound, but DENTSPLY still sells the old sealants to dentists who prefer them.
** Sources: Adapted from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and DENTSPLY.
UNLUCKY “7”
The recycling numbers that appear on the bottoms of most plastic bottles and other containers were designed by the plastics industry in 1988 to help recyclers separate different types of plastics. Some – but not all – plastics with the recycling No. 7 are polycarbonate, which has BPA. Here’s what each number means.
Dr Ekstrom's Comments:
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