The chemical BPA is leeching into our food and poisoning our babies! Run! Hide!
BPA is everywhere. The FDA finally made the decision to ban the chemical from baby bottles joining the European Union and Canada. But what is BPA? Is it really a risk to our health?
What Is BPA?
BPA is a chemical used to make plastics. Water bottles, sports equipment, dental fillings, eye glass lenses, and food containers all contain BPA.
Why Is Everyone Scared Of BPA?
BPA has been shown to act like the hormone estrogen. Hormones help the body communicate with itself. For example, the right exposure to the right hormone during pregnancy tells the fetus whether it will be a girl or a boy. It is important that hormones remain in balance.
BPA is feared because it may throw hormones out of balance.
How Does BPA Leech From Plastic?
When plastic is heated the chemicals separate and degrade. Heat from a microwave or simple sunlight can cause BPA to leech from plastic.
Should I Worry?
The BPA debate has been argued for many years. People who support the use of BPA point to the fact that the chemical must pass through the liver first before entering the body. The liver acts like a powerful filter that breaks down BPA. Supporters argue that it would require a high dose of the chemical to overcome the body’s filtering mechanism.
I say why take the risk? I worked in a lab studying BPA’s estrogenic properties. BPA activates cells that are sensitive to estrogen. Certain types of breast cancer cells grow in response to estrogen. It’s not worth the risk, no matter how remote.
What do you think?