What is BPA

Someone asked me the other day what BPA means and why they shouldn't buy products that this chemical is found in. I thought that was a very good question mostly because you see "BPA free" as a point of sale on a lot of products used in daily life, without any real explination as to why it's bad.. I will do my best to explain what BPA is and how it effects us.

 BPA is an abbreviation for Bisphenol A, an organic compound with two phenol function groups (acidic compound responsible for specific functions of the compound). These compounds are most commonly used in the manufacturing of polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins. Known to potentially cause birth defects since the mid 1930's ,BPAs came into public light in the late 2000s resulting in some manufacturers looking for alternatives to the existing manufacturing process of plastics. In 2010 the FDA reported on BPA and the concerns of exposing fetuses, infants and young children to the substance. Canada was the first country to declare Bisphenol A a toxic substance.

 Bisohenol A is an endocrine disruptor, which can mimic the body's own hormones and may result in negative health effects. Studies were released in 2008 showing a possible connection between BPA exposure and obesity. The same year the U.S. National Toxicology Program confirmed the effects of BPA on neurological development. In 2009 a review of studies conducted on environmental chemicals raised concern about BPA and it's effect on thyroid function. In 2008, 2009 & 2010 studies showed that perinatal exposure to BPA lead to increased risk of breast cancer among a multitude of other ill effects.

 You don't have to ingest something with BPA in it to be effected by it. You can breath the chemical in by exposure via evaporation. Heating plastic products releases this chemical into the air...this includes the plastics in your vehicle or home.

 With all of these studies showing the negative results of using these types of chemicals ,not to mention the volume of exposure we suffer, you would think this would have come to light a lot sooner. Be aware of what your consuming and what your exposing your children to.

 Here's s list of everyday items BPA is used in during manufacturing; food cans and water pipe lining, soft drinks containers, baby bottles, automotive plastics, plastic tableware, coolers, sunglasses, cd's, DVD's, plastic dental fillings, construction glazing and bullet proof glass. These chemical is used in so many fields it seems impossible to avoid but with a little research you can avoid the large pitfalls. When purchasing recycled materials look at the back or bottom of the container for the recycle symbol, avoid products with a 3 or 7 next to the symbol. these products may contain BPA.

You can't live forever but you can try.