by Averil Bernard
These day we’re all super concerned about the dangers associated with pesticides and other chemicals. We all steer clear of styrofoam and double check that our plastic containers are BPA (bisphenol A) free because we’ve heard that there are health risks associated with it. We’ve thrown out our old plastic water bottles and purchased safe BPA free ones. The Big Question is, are those plastic BPA free water bottles really safe?
BPA
BPA (bisphenol-A) is a chemical compound that has been in commercial use in manufacturing since 1957. It’s a starting material for the synthesis of plastic and has many uses. Most of us know that BPA from plastics leach into food and beverages when heated or scratched, and when consumed results in multiple health problems including an increased risk of cancer, reproductive issues, diabetes, cardiovascular problems and obesity.
The issue is that BPA is a plasicizer, and performs the very important function of making plastics more usable. Merriam-Webster (dictionary) says that a plasticizer is “a chemical added especially to rubbers and resins to impart flexibility, workability, or stretchability.” Logic says that if manufacturers eliminate BPA they need to use something else to perform it’s function.
BPA Substitutes
Well, to remedy the BPA issue manufacturers now use replacement chemicals (plasticizers) like BPS (bisphenol S), Pthalates, BPF (bisphenol F) and more recently BPSIP (4-Hydro xyphenyl 4-Isoprooxyphenylsulfone) a derivative of BPS. The super sad thing is that these chemicals also leach into food from their containers and have been determined to be endocrine disrupters just as BPA.
Endocrine Disrupters
So what do these endocrine disrupters actually do anyway? According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, “Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that may interfere with the body’s endocrine system and produce adverse developmental, reproductive, neurological, and immune effects in both humans and wildlife…When absorbed in the body, an endocrine disruptor can decrease or increase normal hormone levels…, mimic the body’s natural hormones…, or alter the natural production of hormones….”
A collaborative study done by Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China and University at Albany, State University of New York, University Place, Rensselaer, NY 12144, United States, has identified the fact that BPS is now found all over the world and in all environmental mediums. Alarmingly it was also noted that the US beats all other countries in the speed of substitution of BPA with BPS. (Read a short review of the study here – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28963899# )
Additionally, a study conducted at University of Kalyani, Kalyani, West Bengal- 741235, India found that BPS alters blood homeostasis, is a haemolysis promoting chemical and is probably a cardiac risk augmenting chemical.
More Studies
For those who need more data, click the links below to check out two studies that show the impact of BPS:
1. Done at UMASS Amherst-
Mary C. Catanese, Laura N. Vandenberg; Bisphenol S (BPS) Alters Maternal Behavior and Brain in Mice Exposed During Pregnancy/Lactation and Their Daughters, Endocrinology, Volume 158, Issue 3, 1 March 2017, Pages 516–530, https://doi.org/10.1210/en.2016-1723
2.Done at UCLA-
Wenhui Qiu, Yali Zhao, Ming Yang, Matthew Farajzadeh, Chenyuan Pan, Nancy L. Wayne. Actions of Bisphenol A and Bisphenol S on the Reproductive Neuroendocrine System During Early Development in Zebrafish. Endocrinology, 2015; en.2015-1785, https://doi.org/10.1210/en.2015-1785
Pthalates
While BPA and BPS are really terrible. I consider Pthalates to be extremely, extremely terrible because they lurk almost everywhere and we are, for the most part unaware of them.
Pthalates can be found in items like the lining of food cans, plastic plumbing pipes, nail polish, meat and dairy products from animals that have been exposed to pthalates, lubricants, shower curtains, vinyl flooring, carpet, upholstery, vehicles, toys, teethers, pacifiers, sippy cups, baby bottles and their rubber nipples, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, medical tubing, medical fluid bags and cash register receipts. Pthalates may also be found under the name ‘fragrance’ in shampoo, perfumes, skin moisturizer, soap, hair spray and deodorant. I included a long list so you could see how widespread pthalates are. Please note that this list is by no means exhaustive. So where else are pthalates lurking?
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), based in Atlanta, Georgia, a federal public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, lists phthalates in their ‘Toxic Substances Portal’ and states the following, “Phthalates are … typically colorless liquids used to make plastics more flexible and resilient, and are often referred to as plasticizers. Because they are not a part of the chain of chemicals (polymers) that makes up plastics, they can be released fairly easily from these products. These plastics are found in products such as toothbrushes, automobile parts, tools, toys, and food packaging. Some are also used in cosmetics, insecticides, and aspirin.”
How To Reduce Your Exposure?
It appears to me that the big issue is plastics and the leaching of these plasticizers into our food and the environment. I took some intentional steps in order to reduce my exposure:
- I carry my own stainless steel mug when getting hot beverages at coffee shops etc.
- If I choose to use the shop cup, I don’t use the plastic lid provided.
- I invested in a glass water bottle that’s nicely padded and I’m super careful. Nothing’s wrong with stainless steel or ceramic, glass is just my preference. This took months of research and sorting through tons of reviews.
- I use glass, ceramic or stainless steel dishes and containers instead of plastic containers, as much as possible.
- I never ever put hot foods in anything plastic, use plastic wrap to cover anything hot or microwave foods in anything plastic.
- I use a silicone microwave plate cover. Plate covers are also available in glass with silicone handles.
- I encourage friends and relatives to use glassware or ceramic bottles and containers for feeding babies. This is something my parents did.
- I use filtered tap water instead of water bottled in plastic. Consider how much heat those bottles of water are possibly exposed to during the journey from supplier to store.
- I try to avoid canned goods: I cook, package and freeze beans and vegetables for quick meal prep.
- I use fragrance free (pthalate free) body wash, shampoo, toothpaste, laundry detergent, dish detergent and degreasers.
- I choose items labeled phthalate-free.
- I avoid items with pthalate acronyms like: DHEP, DiBP, DINP, DnOP, and DIDP.
Now that you have the information, what will you choose to do with it? I recommend sharing it, but it’s totally up to you. 🙂
For informational purposes only. Not intended as medical advice.