Dangers of Using Plastic Bottles Which Contain Bisphenol A

Bisphenol A is a chemical compound used to help form polycarbonate plastics. It is so widespread in the environment and so easily absorbed by humans, that in one study, it was detected in the urine of more than 90 percent of the people above 6 years of age. BPA has been linked to numerous health problems.

Health Problems

• Once in the body, BPA acts like an artificial hormone, and has been linked to delayed puberty, insulin resistance, which is a risk factor for type II diabetes, increased rates of miscarriage, and the formation and growth of fat cells, which helps increase obesity. Exposure to BPA is suspected in increased cancer rates, including breast cancer, and its ability to mimic estrogen has led to lower sperm counts in men, and is suspected in lower male birth rates in populations that have excessive exposure to it.

BPA is Everywhere

• BPA is found in many products that consumers use every day, including cell phones, baby bottles, computers, water bottles, canned foods and baby toys. Plastic bottles and containers with the No. 7 inside the recycling symbol usually contain BPA. With BPA used in such a variety of products, people can be constantly exposed to it without even realizing.

Leaching into Food

• The most common way that humans wind up getting BPA in their systems is through ingestion. BPA that is released into the environment can get into the water supply, be absorbed by plants, or eaten by animals, and brought into our bodies when we consume them. In addition to the plastic bottles, BPA is also found in the lining of tin cans (the lining is there to preserve the taste of the food), and in some plastic dishes. You shouldn't use plastic containers to heat food, as the heat can cause chemicals in the plastic to leach into the food at a higher rate.