Dangers of Plastic Drinking Bottles

Some facts on BPA and the food supply

Name: Bisphenol A (BPA). Not a true ingredient, but through food contact this stuff makes its way into many of the things we eat and drink. BPA was originally produced for use as a synthetic hormone in 1936. 

Production and Usage: Worldwide production of BPA exceeds seven billion pounds annually, with demand growing from 6-10% each year, making BPA one of the highest production volume chemicals in the world. 

Today BPA is most commonly used as the building block of polycarbonate (PC) plastic for a great number of products. Food related PC products include such items as cups, baby bottles, water bottles, food storage containers, white dental sealants, and coatings that keep the metal cans from imparting taste and odor, and protect the can from corrosion (all of which enhance the quality and usable life of canned foods). BPA makes PC plastic ware (including bottles and food containers) clearer, less breakable, and able to withstand higher temperatures. It is also an additive in other types of plastic used to make children’s toys. 

Potential Problems: BPA may leach into the food it is supposed to be protecting. BPA mimics estrogen and is implicated in multiple maladies at very low levels. According to scientists at the USA’s National Toxicology Program (NTP), which is part of the National Institutes of Health, BPA exposure, at levels currently measured in the human population, could affect the brain, behavior and prostate gland in fetuses, infants, and children. The NTP also has concerns about BPA’s ability to bring about abnormal breast development, premature puberty in girls, birth defects and reproduction problems in adults. 

Research suggests that, in the case of BPA, low doses seem to be able to do the most harm over the lifespan. Low levels may sneak under the bodies’ detoxification defense mechanisms and thus appear able to cause worse damage than higher doses. One example is that exposure of fetuses or very young offspring to BPA can possibly increase their risk of developing cancer in later life. 

Avoiding BPA: Rather than argue the good and bad of BPA, let’s look at how to minimize our gastronomic exposure and related risks. Avoid BPA containing PC food containers. Several media sources recommend avoiding all food containers bearing the SPI Recycle Number 7 as a way to do this. I do not agree with taking this easy way out. SPI Recycle Number 7 is the code designated for “Other” plastics.  BPA containing PC items share this diverse miscellaneous category with many other plastics which do notcontain BPA. 

For instance, there is a newer class of plastics composed of biodegradable plant-based compounds, and which are good for the environment, that are also listed in this “Other” group. These new compostable plastics are also used to make food containers and service ware. It is better to be more selective within this “Other” group. Avoid the BPA containing PC food and water containers for sure. Because not all plastics in the “Other” category contain BPA, consider the benefits of the items in this category by reading label descriptions which usually will promote the biodegradable plastic items as: “biodegradable” or “compostable”. Even the labeling message, “dishwasher safe in top shelf only” may be a clue that the product is degradable because these new plant-based plastics will not (as of yet) withstand much heat, but PC plastics will take the heat (some are used in baking). If the label seems unclear as to the “healthfulness” of the item then talk with the retailer, or the manufacture to determine if the product is degradable or contains BPA. Here is a good internet site for more information on all seven of the SPI Recycle Numbers and the types of products covered under each: www.thedaily green.com/green-homes/latest/recycling- symbols-plastics-460321. 

Use caution when buying metal reusable water bottles as they are often lined with a BPA containing coating. Buy uncoated stainless steel or glass lined bottles. On all other bottles, look for a “BPA Free” declaration on the product description label. Some of the items that claim to be “Leach Free” define “Free” loosely and BPA has been found in the contents. 

Consider eating less canned foods: Testing shows that BPA leaches from the inner coating into the food itself. Beverages appear to contain the smallest levels of BPA, with canned pastas and soups containing the highest. Using less canned food may be especially important for pregnant women and children. This also applies to canned liquid formula, so avoid canned liquid formula. Choose powdered formula which may not have BPA in packaging and which is diluted with water. If liquid formula is needed look for brands sold in BPA free plastic or glass containers. Better yet breast feed your babies! 

Move away from canned food brands, or product lines, that use BPA in the inner coatings. The best way to know if BPA is in your favored brands, and to motivate the manufacturer—packer or canner—to remove BPA from their product lines is to call or write their customer service departments to find out if they use BPA. Let them know your preference for zero BPA. Be nice! Keep in mind that the people who will deal with your concern did not make the decision to use BPA, and they may be equally as upset as you are if their company does use BPA. If you call, once you mention BPA, you may be transferred to a corporate lawyer. This has happened to me, so if this happens to you, don’t lose your nice spirit even if you, too, are treated as an interruption or worse. Either way (customer service, or law firm), make your position known that you prefer their product but will seek alternatives until they remove BPA from their processes. Ask them to take your name and address so they can contact you when they drop BPA. 

One canned food processor has already moved to BPA-free canning processes. Eden® Foods started using BPA free cans for their non-acidic canned products in 1999. They pioneered the return to a resinous plant based enamel coating (various evergreen trees). To my knowledge, they remain the only multi-product line canner to do so. At 14 percent more for non-BPA cans, it costs them hundreds of thousands of dollars more each year to do this. Interestingly, they didn’t promote this change until people started looking for BPA free items. They made the change, “because it was the right thing to do.” This is amazingly altruistic behavior for a member of an industry that is exclusively motivated by profits. Glass packed items are also good alternative “canners” because only the lids would be coated so BPA migration to the food contents should be much less. 

Microwaving? Avoid the use of any plastic container to heat food in microwaves. If you use a microwave, then use only ceramic, glass, or other impervious dishware specifically microwaveable. Not all “china” qualifies as microwaveable. Some contain minerals which are not transparent to microwaves and this causes the dish to get hot. When the dish collects the heat there is less energy available to heat the food item. 

Completely eliminating exposure to BPA may not be possible, but you can reduce your personal and family exposure to some of the known endocrine [hormone] disrupting plastics by strategically changing what you buy, how you use it and how you live your daily life. 

Article by Jim Raymond