BPA is a synthetic chemical used to make plastics and resins in many daily products. It is an environmental contaminant and can lead to various health problems, but its danger to humans is still controversial. Consumers can limit exposure by checking labels and avoiding plastic use with hot food or drinks.
What you should know about BPA depends on who you ask. Clearly, those industries that use it to make their products don’t want the concerns to create widespread panic. However, some governments, consumer groups, healthcare providers, and environmentalists are not happy with the development of data on BPA.
In simple terms, BPA, or bisphenol A, is a synthetic chemical compound used to make some plastics and resins that are used in the manufacture of numerous products that we use in our daily lives. Many plastic containers are suspect, from water bottles and baby bottles to food storage containers, toys and some medical supplies, but it’s not just these items that are of concern. Things like pouches in cans of baby food or formula are also potentially problematic.
Some say that BPA is also an environmental contaminant, having been reported in water and sediment at various levels. Many believe that even low level exposures can be dangerous, as some animal studies have shown. Some studies link BPA exposure to different types of cancer, as well as other diseases and disorders. Threats of breast cancer, prostate cancer, diabetes, obesity, and miscarriage may be exacerbated by BPA exposure, and may increase hyperactivity according to some studies.
BPA can act as a hormone disruptor, or something that can interfere with proper hormone function and lead to various health problems. Still, most governments are not prepared to enact a full ban until more testing is complete, as there are competing studies and the study of human exposure has not been widely conducted. Due to limited human study, the question of whether or not bisphenol A is dangerous to humans continues to be controversial.
Government agencies may not be of much help. Various reports cite different agencies to bolster the arguments on both sides of the debate. Rather than rely on government agencies or industry studies, many people have decided to err on the side of caution and try to avoid products that contain BPA. It may not be possible to avoid bisphenol A completely, but to help lower exposure, many people have begun to limit their use of products that contain it. Consumers can check labels for BPA-free products, and some products with the #7 recycling symbol are also noted to contain BPA.
Consumers can also take other steps to help limit exposure, such as choosing glass over plastic when possible, not using plastic containers in the microwave or with hot food or drinks, not putting plastic in the dishwasher, and avoiding harsh cleaners. like bleach when cleaning plastics.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
