I’m not quite sure how I could write about trends these days without mentioning Bisphenol A…it’s all over the news and everyone’s talking about it. Is it really a health risk? Any tips for living a BPA-free life?
First, some background. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a central component in polycarbonate plastics that has been used for ages in the linings of canned products, in plastic water and baby bottles and in other plastic products. Now scientific experts have warned that unsafe levels of BPA, leaching into our canned foods and bottled drinks, pose a significant health hazard.
The problem arises in that BPA is a class of chemicals known as endocrine-disruptors, which mimic estrogen. These chemicals can duplicate, block or exaggerate hormonal responses that control development of the brain, the reproductive system and other functions. Recently, experts have come out to say that BPA may alter genes and turn them on and off at inappropriate times.
I started to take notice when I began to hear on the news and read in the papers that BPA may be linked to the contemporary increases in breast cancer, prostate cancer, Type 2 diabetes, early onset of puberty in girls, obesity, and neuro-behavioural problems such as attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders. Scary enough for you?
The Canadian government has recently weighed in, and our country is the first in the world to complete a risk assessment of BPA in consultation with industry and other stakeholders, and to initiate a 60 day public comment period on whether to ban the importation, sale and advertising of polycarbonate baby bottles which contain BPA.
All well and good, but in the meantime, what can you do to lessen your family’s exposure to BPA? Here are a few tips to get you started…
Use a metal or glass water bottle
I recently purchased SIGG water bottles for my two-year old daughter and I, to replace the plastic water bottles we were both sipping from all day long. SIGG’s a Swiss company that has been making aluminum bottles for a hundred years. They started with a simple hiker’s bottle, and today you can buy all sorts of great products . I love mine because I know it’s a safer alternative and my daughter loves hers because it’s bright and has Dora dancing around on it.
Find out where to buy SIGG products near you at www.northern-spirit.ca.
Thanks! I live in the UK and have only hear about this from my Canadian friends. Can’t find anything other than plastic bottles over here so am having some brought over for me from Canada. Although, I agree with Kath the I thought Aluminum wasn’t supposed to be great either?
I am so shocked at how quickly this has come about. We have all been using tupperware and the cheaper options for decades and within what seems like a week we are all panicked and trying to find glass bottles for babies. But what about the plastic teats . Its just crazy.
All of this makes me so nervous! Is there anything that is safe? I bought Tupperware specifically because it was touted as the ONLY safe plastic. Paid a fortune and now I have to pitch it ALL. I think we all need to go back to nature and grow our own crops, raise our own animals, walk or use horse and buggy. Seriously though, what’s next?!
Thanks for the article. I’ve been looking for these bottles and couldn’t find them, so after following your link I was able to find a water store 2 minutes from me that carries them. I bought one yesterday! (I wanted the same one as you, but they didn’t have it, so I got the same design in red)
I didn’t buy them for my kids though…$24 is an expensive bottle to lose!
The tupperware thing drives me crazy because the clear, hard stuff IS polycarbonate, which they claimed was the only stuff SAFE in the microwave at high temps! Now we find out the opposite is true. I have tossed all the hard plastics we had – we only have stuff that is clearly marked #3 on it. And I bought some pyrex containers for the micro. We are moving to some aluminum bottles, but you wonder…how good is aluminum leaking into your water? I thought that stuff was bad which is why we bought all stainless steel pots & pans???
Great timing Jen!!! It was the topic at MOMS this morning (miss seeing you there). I wasn’t that concerned about the topic as my kids have outgrown the baby bottles (and I also recently got a SIGG bottle), but now I’m looking at my Tupperware (especially the containers I purchased because they were supposedly microwave-safe)…ugggghhh. Thanks for the info.