BPA-Free Plastic Containers May Be Just as Harmful

BPA-Free Plastic Containers May Be Just as Harmful

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When something is said to be an “endocrine disruptor”, it means your hormones are being messed with.  Endocrine disruption can have serious consequences like hyperactivity, stored belly fat, infertility and cancer.

BPA is used all around us in plastic products and is a endocrine (hormone) disruptor.

The European Union recently estimated the annual health care costs for hormone-disrupting chemicals to be around $175 billion, and one of the study’s authors called this estimate “very conservative”.

Linda Birnbaum, the leading environmental health official in the US government, told National Geographic:

“If you applied these [health care] numbers to the U.S., they would be applicable, and in some cases higher.”

National Geographic reported:

“’The point is that there is a wide variety of effects being seen in the general population related to endocrine-disrupting chemicals. We have increasing amount of data raising concerns about their use,’ Birnbaum says. ‘We are seeing effects from [chemical] levels that are present in the general population.’ To put $175 billion in perspective, it is more than the combined proposed 2016 budgets for the U.S. Department of Education, Department of Health and Human Services, National Park Service, and Environmental Protection Agency combined.”

This post reveals some surprising sources of BPA you may be overlooking and shows how BPA-Free plastic containers may be just as harmful, or even worse, than BPA.

Annual health care costs for hormone-disrupting chemicals - around $175 billion Share on X

BPA disrupts hormones

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is an synthetic compound. It is structured in a way that mimics the natural hormone estradiol, a female sex hormone.

In the early 1930s, BPA was used as an artificial estrogen to fatten poultry and cattle and also as a form of estrogen replacement therapy for women. In the 1940s, Bayer and General Electric used BPA to harden polycarbonate plastics and make epoxy resin.

According to The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology:

  • Bisphenol A (BPA) is one of the highest volume chemicals produced worldwide
  • (BPA) is a building block of polycarbonate plastics often used for food and beverage storage
  • BPA is also a component of epoxy resins that are used to line (metal) food and beverage containers.
  • Studies have shown that BPA can leach from these and other products in contact with food and drink, and as a result, routine ingestion of BPA is presumed.
  • (BPA) has been detected in the majority of individuals examined.

The study clearly states the problem: “BPA is a known endocrine disruptor. Although initially considered to be a weak environmental estrogen, more recent studies have demonstrated that BPA may be similar in potency to estradiol in stimulating some cellular responses. Moreover, emerging evidence suggests that BPA may influence multiple endocrine-related pathways. Studies in rodents have identified adverse effects of BPA at levels at or below the current acceptable daily intake level for this compound.”

BPA’s are commonly found in:

  • Plastic water bottles
  • Plastic gallon milk bottles
  • Plastic microwavable plates, ovenware, and utensils
  • Some tooth sealants and most dental floss
  • Canned foods and soda cans (most have plastic lining in the cans)
  • Baby toys, bottles, pacifiers, and sippy cups
  • Currency and cash register receipts
BPA is a known endocrine disruptor found in cans, receipts and toys. Share on X

BPA is linked to obesity, low testosterone, cancer and more

There are a number of very real risks from exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals like BPA.

Obesity

A number of studies have associated BPA exposure with weight gain and obesity, in both rats and humans.

A 2011 study concluded, “Higher BPA exposure is associated with general and central obesity in the general adult population of the United States.”

Another 2011 study in China states, “BPA was positively associated with generalized obesity, abdominal obesity, and insulin resistance in middle-aged and elderly Chinese adults.”

A 2011 study published in Neurotoxicology and Teratology found a low dose of BPA could increase a preference for sweets.

The Journal of Lipid Research, published a study that discovered BPA increased both the number of fat cells and the amount of fat that the fat cells produced and held on to.

Autism

In 2015, the first study was published associating BPA with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).  According to a review by Science Daily, “The study, by researchers at Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine (RowanSOM) and Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (NJMS), shows that BPA is not metabolized well in children with ASD.”

Ovarian toxicity

Harvard researchers have found that higher BPA levels in women are linked to a reduced number of fertile eggs. According to the New York Times: “The accumulating research fuels rising concern among scientists that childhood exposure to BPA may well contribute to female infertility, and that adult exposure may result in a shorter reproductive life span.”

‘I think most scientists working today agree that BPA is an ovarian toxicant,’ Dr. Flaws said. A review of research into BPA, published this summer in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, noted that ovarian toxicity is among the most consistent and strongest effects found ‘in both animal models and in women.’” 

And there’s much more:

BPA is linked to many diseases including obesity, cancer and heart disease. Share on X

BPA is especially dangerous for pre-born babies

According to 2009 research by the University of Missouri- Columbia, “Results show that fetal exposure to low doses of natural and synthetic estrogenic chemicals (as much as 600,000-times lower than doses used in traditional toxicological studies) lead in males to a permanent increase in prostate size, changes in enzyme activity and steroid receptor numbers in a number of organs, a decrease in sperm production, and increased aggressiveness, while in females, changes in neuroendocrine and uterine function as well as behavior occur. These findings provide the first experimental evidence that exposure to environmentally relevant doses of man-made estrogenic chemicals found in plastics and pesticides during fetal life can irreversibly alter the course of fetal development.”

96% of pregnant women in the USA test positive for BPA in their urine.

The advice of researcher Kris Gunnars to women: “…if you are a pregnant woman or plan on becoming pregnant, then I think it is crucial that you do your best to avoid being exposed to these chemicals. It could have a dramatic effect on the future health of your baby.”

BPA is especially dangerous for pre-born babies! Share on X

Most cash register receipts are heavily coated with BPA

Have you ever noticed how store receipts feel slightly powdery? According to an article published in Newsweek, “That’s because most receipts are printed on “thermal” paper, which changes color when heated. A thin coating of powder helps develop the dyes. That powder, it turns out, contains an endocrine-disrupting chemical, and we’re absorbing it through the skin on our fingers.”

“Whereas BPA in things like cans and bottles are “bounded,” or attached to other molecules that must break down for a person to absorb the chemical, the BPA in receipts is present in loose powder, which easily leaves a very high concentration of the chemical on peoples’ fingers.”

A study in Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry found 11 out of 13 thermal printing papers (the type often used for receipts) contained BPA. Holding the paper for just 5 seconds was enough to transfer BPA onto a person’s skin, and the amount of BPA transferred increased by about 10 times if the fingers were wet or greasy.

A study commissioned by Environmental Working Group (EWG) detected BPA on 40 percent of receipts they tested from gas stations, supermarkets and other common retail outlets. According to EWG, “the total mass of BPA on a receipt is 250 to 1,000 times greater than the amount of BPA typically found in a can of food or a can of baby formula.”

A study published in Environmental Science and Technology analyzed paper currencies from 21 countries for the presence of BPA.   BPA was detected in every sample. They also measured the transfer of BPA from thermal receipt paper to currency by placing the two together in a wallet for 24 hours. This dramatically increased the concentrations of BPA on the money, which suggests that receipts are highly contaminated.

The researchers estimated that you could be absorbing a few nanograms of BPA every day from handling paper currency.

One of the top sources of BPAs is cash register receipts. Share on X

BPA from canned food can increase exposure by 1,000%

Research from the Harvard School of Public Health revealed that participants eating soup from cans for five days, had higher BPA levels than those eating fresh soup. Specifically, those eating fresh soup had BPA levels that averaged 1.1 micrograms per liter. The canned soup group, however, had levels of 20.8 mcg per liter, which is an increase of more than 1,000%.

Jenny Carwile led the study.  She noted that given this finding, canned goods may cause higher BPA levels than plastics: “We’ve known for a while that drinking beverages that have been stored in certain hard plastics can increase the amount of BPA in your body. This study suggests that canned foods may be an even greater concern, especially given their wide use,” she said.

According to Consumer Reports’ 2009 testing, the levels of BPA can vary greatly from one can to another.  Nevertheless,  just a couple of servings of canned food can exceed the safety limits for daily BPA exposure for children. Whether or not a canned good is organic makes no difference (although some manufacturers have begun to come out with BPA-free canned goods).

According to a 2005 study, “…heating of cans to sterilize food, the presence of acidic or basic food or beverages in cans or poly-carbonate plastic, and repeated washing of polycarbonate products have all been shown to result in an increase in the rate of leaching of BPA.”

Harvard reports BPA from canned food can increase exposure by 1000%. Share on X

BPA-free products can be MORE dangerous than BPA

In response to consumer demands to eliminate BPA from products, many manufacturers have simply switched to using different – but equally toxic or even more toxic – chemicals.

According to Dr. Joseph Mercola, “In a study meant to simulate “real-world” use, 95 percent of all plastic products tested positive for estrogenic activity, meaning they can still disrupt your hormones even if they carry a BPA-free label. Even more disconcerting is the finding that BPA-free plastics in some cases leached more BPA than the non-BPA free plastics”

“BPA is not the only culprit; it’s simply the most highly publicized one. There’s also Bisphenol AB and AF, Bisphenol B and BP, Bisphenol C, Bisphenol E, F, G, M, S, P, PH, TMC and, yes, there’s even a Bisphenol Z. Any one of these can be in your BPA-free baby bottle or sippy cup, unfortunately.”

A 2011 study published in Environmental Health Perspectives found that almost all of the 455 commercially available plastics that were tested leached estrogenic chemicals.

The NIH journal Environmental Health Perspectives reported that “almost all” commercially available plastics tested leached synthetic estrogens—even when they weren’t exposed to the heat of a microwave, the steam of a dishwasher, or the sun’s ultraviolet rays. According to the study, some BPA-free products actually released synthetic estrogens that were more potent than BPA.

Dr. Mercola points out that the root of the problem is a lack of regulation:  “…there’s no proper agency testing for toxicity before a chemical is allowed on the market. Banning BPS will not solve this problem, as there are many types of bisphenols, and simply switching from one to another is nothing but a game of toxic musical chairs. At present, you may be paying more for a “BPA-free” product that is no safer than the old BPA-containing variety… You’re also exposed to a number of other chemicals courtesy of food and beverage containers, most of which have no warning labels at all.”

Scientific American noted: “BPS was a favored replacement because it was thought to be more resistant to leaching. If people consumed less of the chemical, the idea went, it would not cause any or only minimal harm.Yet BPS is getting out. Nearly 81 percent of Americans have detectable levels of BPS in their urine. And once it enters the body it can affect cells in ways that parallel BPA.”

Some BPA-free products released synthetic estrogens that were more potent than BPA. Share on X

Other endocrine disrupting chemicals

Let’s look at just a few of the common endocrine disrupting chemicals to note how they compare to BPA.

BPS

BPS is often used as a replacement for BPA in “BPA-free” products.  It has much in common with BPA, but can actually be worse.

  • Can leach into food or drinks from the plastic containers
  • Now showing up in human urine concentrations at levels similar to those of BPA – This suggests that many manufacturers are simply swapping one bisphenol for another.
  • Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch discovered that BPS concentrations less than one part per trillion can disrupt cell function.
  • BPS can induce apoptosis (cell death) and interfere with cellular secretion of prolactin (PRL)—a hormone that regulates hundreds of biological functions, including metabolism, reproduction, and lactation.

The journal Toxicology In Vitro stated, ““In 2011, the European Commission has restricted the use of Bisphenol A in plastic infant feeding bottles. In a response to this restriction, Bisphenol S is now often used as a component of plastic substitutes for the production of babybottles. One of the major concerns leading to the restriction of Bisphenol A was its weak estrogenic activity. By using two highly standardised transactivation assays, we could demonstrate that the estrogenic activity of Bisphenol A and Bisphenol S is of a comparable potency.”

Not only does BPS appear to mimic BPA, but research suggests it is actually less biodegradable, and more heat-stable and photo-resistant, than BPA. GreenMedInfo reports: “… while regulators wait for manufacturers who promote their products with “BPA-Free!” stickers at the same moment that they infuse them with BPS to voluntarily reformulate,there isevidence now that BPS may actually have worse effects to environmental and human health, alike..

“… BPS’ relative inability to biodegrade indicates: 1) once it is absorbed into the human body, it may accumulate there for longer periods of time. 2) it is more likely to persist in the environment, making external exposures to it, and its many metabolites, much more likely than the faster degrading BPA. In other words, its potential to do harm will worsen along the axis of time, not lessen, which is a common argument made for the purported “safety” of BPA.”

Phthalates

Phthalates, or “plasticizers,” are a group of industrial chemicals used to make plastics like polyvinyl chloride (PVC) more flexible and resilient. Like BPAs:

Phthalates are found in:

  • Processed food packaging
  • Hoses
  • Raincoats
  • Shower curtains
  • Vinyl flooring and wall coverings
  • Lubricant and adhesives
  • Detergents
  • Beauty products like nail polish, makeup, hair spray, shampoo, shower gels, deodorants, and fragrances
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Paint
  • Toys
  • Air fresheners
  • Dryer sheets
  • Even used as a food additive!

Styrene

Styrene is found in Styrofoam cups.  According to scientists with the National Research Council, styrene can be “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.”  Since most leaching tends to occur when there is exposure to heat, Styrofoam is of particular concern because it is traditionally used for hot beverages.

The ‘Dirty Dozen’ Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has published a “dirty dozen” list for the 12 worst endocrine disruptors.

  • Arsenic
  • Atrazine
  • Bisphenol-A (BPA)
  • Dioxin
  • Fire retardants
  • Glycol ethers
  • Lead
  • Mercury
  • Organophosphate pesticides
  • Perchlorate
  • Perfluorinated chemicals(PFCs)
  • Phthalates
BPA replacements can be WORSE than BPAs! Share on X

The FDA says BPA is safe – Last EPA check was in the 80’s

According to an article in Mother Jones, “In 2001, as studies on BPA stacked up, the American Chemistry Council enlisted the center to convene a panel of scientists to investigate low-dose BPA. The center paid panelists $12,000 to attend three meetings, according to Fast Company. Their final report, released in 2004, drew on just a few industry-favored studies and concluded that the evidence that low-dose BPA exposure harmed human health was “very weak.” By this point, roughly 100 studies on low-dose BPA were in circulation. Not a single industry-funded study found it harmful, but 90 percent of those by government-funded scientists discovered dramatic effects, ranging from an increased breast cancer risk to hyperactivity. Four of the 12 panelists later insisted the center scrub their names from the report because of questions about its accuracy.

Chemical interests, meanwhile, forged deep inroads with the Bush administration, allowing them to covertly steer the regulatory process. For decades, the Food and Drug Administration has assured lawmakers and the public that BPA is safe in low doses. But a 2008 investigation by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel revealed that the agency had relied on industry lobbyists to track and evaluate BPA research, and had based its safety assessment largely on two industry-funded studies—one of which had never been published or peer reviewed.”

The last U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) risk assessment for BPA was based on research published in 1988.  The lowest dose studied was 50 mg/kg/day.  Yet according to a 2005 study, “In 31 publications with vertebrate and invertebrate animals, significant effects occurred below the predicted “safe” or reference dose of 50 μg/kg/day BPA. An estrogenic mode of action of BPA is confirmed by in vitro experiments, which describe disruption of cell function at 10−12 M or 0.23 ppt.” 

In September 2010, Canada was the first to declare BPA a toxic substance.  To date, no other country has followed suit, although BPA has been banned in baby bottles in Europe and the US.

Despite mounting evidence showing the harms of BPA, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states “We reassure consumers that current approved uses of BPA in food containers and packaging are safe.”

According to Newsweek, “The burden of safety verification lies with the Environmental Protection Agency. Facing a tight deadline to test the chemicals, the overwhelming majority end up on the market without testing. The EPA has only tested and published data on approximately 200 of the 83,000 chemicals in its inventory, according to a California Senate review from 2010.”

Expert panelists were paid $12,000 each to find BPA harmless. Share on X

Healthy gut bacteria can break down BPA

According to a 2008 study, good bacteria in our gut has the ability to degrade BPA as well as reduce intestinal absorption.  Taking a quality probiotic and/or consuming fermented foods like homemade fermented vegetables, raw grass-fed organic kefir, or Kimchi, may make a difference in protecting you from the adverse effects of unavoidable BPA exposures.

A probiotic can break down BPA. Share on X

Ways to avoid endocrine disrupting chemicals

While avoiding these chemicals completely may be difficult. you can certainly reduce your exposure dramatically by making more informed choices. It’s important to realize that you have a choice when buying foods and consumer products.  By exercising this choice responsibly, you can help influence industry to get BPA out of their products AND reduce your family’s exposure to dangerous chemicals.

  1. Avoid canned food.  Whether or not the canned food is organic makes no difference.  Opt instead for fresh food when possible or choose jarred goods.
  2. Avoid handling cash register receipts.  If you use a store regularly, encourage the management to switch to BPA-free receipts.
  3. Avoid foods and beverages that have been stored in plastic containers. Brick-shaped cardboard cartons may be preferable to plastic or cans. Store food in glass containers.  I use canning jars of various sizes.
  4. Stop using plastic water bottles.  This includes the kind you get when buying water as well as the refillable type. Use a stainless steel cold cup sold by Starbucks.
  5. Use glass, ceramic, or stainless steel travel coffee mugs rather than plastic or Styrofoam coffee cups.
  6. Breastfeed your baby exclusively if possible, for at least the first year. This will avoid phthalates exposure from infant formula packaging and plastic bottles/nipples.
  7. Parents, do NOT feed your babies from plastic bottles. Use glass bottles instead.
  8. Get rid of the plastic teething toys.  Choose natural varieties instead.
  9. Get rid of plastic dishes, cups, “microwave safe” and food storage containers.  Use glass instead. If you opt to use plastic kitchenware, at least get rid of the older, scratched-up varieties, avoid putting them in the dishwasher, and don’t wash them with harsh detergents, as these things can cause more chemicals to leach into your food. Also, be sure to avoid those marked on the bottom with the recycling label No. 7, or the letters PC, as these varieties are most likely to contain BPA. According to the FDA website, “A resin code of 7 appearing on plastic containers indicates that the container may be made of a BPA-containing plastic.”
  10. Stop using plastic utensils.
  11. Instead of non-stick cookware, use cast iron, ceramic, or stainless steel.
  12. Avoid using plastic wrap (and never microwave anything covered in it)
  13. Buy and eat organic produce and free-range, organic meats to reduce your exposure to added hormones, pesticides, and fertilizers. Also avoid milk and other dairy products that contain the genetically engineered recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH or rBST).
  14. Eat wild-caught fish and avoid eating conventional or farm-raised fish, which are often heavily contaminated with PCBs and mercury.
  15. Before allowing a dental sealant to be applied to your, or your children’s, teeth, ask your dentist to verify that it does not contain BPA.
  16. Use organic, natural cosmetics.
  17. Switch over to organic toiletries, including dental floss, bar soap, hand soap,shampoo, toothpaste, deodorants, and cosmetics. EWG’s Skin Deep database can help you find personal care products that are free of phthalates and other potentially dangerous chemicals. See products I have switched to over time.
  18. Check the ingredients of your perfume or cologne.  The term “fragrance” is a catch-all that may mean a large number of harmful chemicals.  If you do choose to use a fragrance with chemicals, please use only a slight amount so as not to expose others – especially pregnant women – to the risks.
  19. Replace feminine hygiene products (tampons and sanitary pads) with safer alternatives. While most ingredients in feminine hygiene products are undisclosed, tests suggest they may contain dioxins and petrochemical additives.
  20. Replace your vinyl shower curtain with a fabric one.
  21. When remodeling your home, look for toxin-free alternatives in lieu of regular paint and vinyl floor coverings.
  22. Look for fragrance-free products; phthalates are often used to help the product hold its fragrance longer. Artificial fragrance can also contain hundreds—even thousands—of potentially toxic chemicals. Avoid fabric softeners, dryer sheets, air fresheners, and scented candles for the same reason.
  23. Use natural cleaning products, or make your own.
  24. Use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter to remove house dust, which is often contaminated with traces of chemicals.
  25. Look for products that are fragrance-free. One artificial fragrance can contain hundreds — even thousands — of potentially toxic chemicals.
  26. Check your home’s tap water for contaminants and filter the water if necessary. You may also want to use an alternative to PVC pipes for your water supply.
  27. Teach your children not to drink water from the garden hose, as many are made with phthalate-containing plastics.
  28. When buying new products such as furniture, mattresses, or carpet padding, ask what type of fire retardant it contains. Be mindful of and/or avoid items containing PBDEs, antimony, formaldehyde, boric acid, and other brominated chemicals. As you replace these toxic items around your home, select those that contain naturally less flammable materials, such as leather, wool, and cotton.
  29. Avoid stain- and water-resistant clothing, furniture, and carpets to avoid perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs).
  30. Buy a high-quality, high-power vacuum, preferably one that seals in dirt and dust to help minimize your exposure when emptying the collection chamber. Household dust and dirt is thought to be one of the biggest sources of chemical exposure.
30 ways to avoid endocrine disrupting chemicals Share on X

What changes do you plan to make now that you are aware of the risks these chemicals pose?  Leave a comment below and let me know.

Can you think of a family member or friend who could benefit from this information?  You can help them make more informed choices by forwarding this email to them or by sharing the URL for the article on social media.

For more things you can do to improve wellness through nutrition and lifestyle, please take a look at The Wellness Repair Diet.

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Thanks for reading!
Jeff

Additional Resources

Consumer Reports on BPA on cash register receipts

 

News report on Mother Jones expose on BPA

 

A series of training videos for retail employees created by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

#1: BPA in thermal paper: what is it?

 

#2: BPA in thermal paper: paperless point-of-sale products

#3: BPA in thermal paper: strategies to reduce employee and customer exposure

PDF Document Reducing use of BPA and BPS Thermal Receipt Paper in the Hospitality Sector

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