Bispehnol-A a.k.a “Bad Plastics” - What You Need to Know as a Mom
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As a new Mom, or a third time Mom for that matter, there are always a multitude of issues to sort through. One of them you may have been hearing about lately is “bad plastics” or plastics made with Bispehnol-A or BPA.
So what’s the big deal with them? Why are they bad and what can you do about it?
Let’s take a look.
What is Bispehnol-A?
Bispehnol-A or BPA is an industrial chemical used to make polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resin. This chemical is in many products you may be using as new mom, most notably hard plastic baby bottles.
Bisphenol-A is a hormone disruptor. Studies have linked low-dose BPA exposure with permanent changes to genital tract; increased prostate weight; a decline in testosterone; breast cells predisposed to cancer; prostate cells more sensitive to hormones and cancer as well as hyperactivity.
BPA is primarily used to make plastic food and beverage containers, plastic food wrap, and epoxy resins that are used to line metal cans for food. Food and beverage containers that contain BPA are labeled with recycling symbol #7, although not all recycling symbol #7 containers are made with BPA.
Where is it?
Clear hard plastic baby bottles and sippy cups contain BPA, too. Studies also show that one in three cans of formula also contain BPA. Canned fruit and vegetables, soups and beans may also contain BPA. Other hard clear plastic in your house will also contain BPA, but the exposure will be less if it is not a receptacle for something that is ingested.
How Can You Make BPA Free Choices?
First of all, don’t panic. Just because you may have some of these products in you house doesn’t make you a bad mother. As you can see, BPA is in so many items, it would be hard to not have some around. But here’s what you can do starting today to make more informed choices:
- Choose glass bottles for your infant: Two major manufacturers are Born Free and Nurture Pure. These bottles are available at most health stores that carry baby products and also at many baby stores. You can also ask your local store to order them for you or simple order them yourself from the company’s website.
- Choose stainless steel water bottles for your toddler: Stainless steel bottles are available at many children’s stores. It may take your toddler a bit longer to learn to drink from one, but they are safer than sippy cups containing BPA. (Many sippy cups do NOT contain BPA, but may contain other potential harmful plastics chemicals.) Born Free also makes Sippy Cups.
- Feed your baby fresh fruits and veggies not canned: Canned fruit often contains low levels of BPA because it has been stored in a container lined with the chemical. Choose fresh fruits and veggies, and make sure you wash them before feeding them to your baby. Besides that, they’re more nutritious.
How do I Help Ban BPA?
- Petition Your Politicians: Governments across North America are making progress on this issue, but we need to encourage them to do this. Go to Toxic Nation and see how you can help.
- Support Environmental Causes: Support organizations which help get the word out about environmental and health threats to our children. There are many charitable organizations that work on shoestring budgets to get up to date information. Put one of them on your gift list for this year.
- Boycott companies that make baby products containing BPA: This may be a hard thing to do, but it’s important to send a message about this potentially very harmful chemical. Choose not to buy bottles or other products from the major companies that do sell baby products that contain BPA. Reducing plastic consumption benefits the earth we pass on to our kids anyway.
Where Can I find out more?
While there are endless resources on the internet, here are two highly reputable links.
Environmental Defence reports not only on bisphenol A but on other environmental issues that consumers should be aware of.
Pub Med is a highly reputable source of peer reviewed studies available on the net.
If you have any additional questions about BPA or some suggestions of your own, please leave a comment below or use the Feedback link on the site.
Thanks,
I try to give my baby fresh fruits, but some times I can’t. Is it so bad to give once in a wile canned fruit?
Hey there
Andrea Page here of FITMOM and NEWMOM101
What a great question as the reality is we all cant be 100% in our efforts to create a non toxic world for our children. It is a good rule to try to engage in best practises most of the time. Also forgive yourself in the age of anxiety for sometimes having to use less healthy options as having access to fresh fruit may not always be possible.
One thing you can do though is cut up fruit and pop it in the freezer for quick grab bags on the go!!
Interesting article. Definitely food for thought.