BPA
Otherwise known as bisphenol A. It is a chemical used in manufacturing plastics, including water bottles, dinnerware, and even dental sealants.
This chemical is also used to make epoxy resins for lining food cans and water pipes.
It is exposure to these products that can cause absorption into our bodies. So what is the problem?
Low levels of environmental exposure to BPA are still being studied and have been under investigation since 1997.
Exposure to BPA is a concern because of the possible health effects on the brain and prostate gland of fetuses, infants, and children. It can also affect children’s behavior. Additional research suggests a possible link between BPA and increased blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
Heat may cause additional leeching of chemicals, including BPA. BPA mimics the structure and function of the hormone estrogen. As such, it can bind to the estrogen receptors and cause body changes typically influenced by estrogen.
BPA may also activate other hormone receptors, including the thyroid.
What are safe levels of BPA? According to an FDA report in 2014, it was determined that levels under 2.25 milligrams per pound are safe. Although BPA is found in the urine of children as young as 2, most Americans are exposed to 0.1 – 2.2 micrograms per pound which are approximately 1000th of the upper limit of safety. The safe levels are still being studied, and as a result, the FDA has banned manufacturers from using BPA in baby formula cans, baby bottles, and sippy cups in 2021.
In the past 3 weeks, there are reports of a BPA-like substance known as BPS (Bisphenol S) present in some food labels leeching into fresh produce, according to a study done by McGill University.
“BPA is a chemical that can interfere with hormones in the human body and cause adverse health outcomes, including cancers, diabetes, and damage to fertility and the development of infants. Now there is growing evidence that BPS may have similar health effects,” says Stéphane Bayen, an Associate Professor in the Department of Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry. “Our study provides evidence, for the first time, that BPS and alternative chemicals found in food labels migrate through packaging materials into the food people eat,” he explains.
It is our choice in what we choose to put in our bodies. Make sure that you are paying attention to not only your food but also all other substances you are ingesting.
To learn more about environmental toxins, look for my upcoming blogs at sharpemedicalgroup.com.
