About BPA
What is BPA?
One of the defining characteristics of modern day life is our use of plastics. But what most of us don't know is that many of the plastics used in everyday objects can prove harmful to human health and the environment.
Bisphenol A (BPA) is one such plastic and is used to make polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins which are widely used in the manufacture of plastic packaging and the lining of some food cans. Polycarbonate plastics are commonly used to make consumer products because this type of plastic is clear and almost shatterproof. These plastics are used in baby bottles, some water bottles, some bottle tops, sports bottles, food storage containers and many other common items, like CD's.
BPA has been shown to be an endocrine disruptor, http://www.endo-society.org/journals/ScientificStatements/upload/EDC_Scientific_Statement.pdf. This means that BPA, has the potential to interact with our hormonal system which regulates our normal day to day body functions.
The National Institute of Environmental Heath Services states that the primary source of exposure to BPA for most people is through the diet. While air, dust, and water are other possible sources of exposure, BPA in food and beverages accounts for the majority of daily human exposure.
Bisphenol A can leach into food from the protective internal epoxy resin coatings of canned foods and from consumer products such as polycarbonate tableware, food storage containers, water bottles, and baby bottles. The degree to which BPA leaches from polycarbonate bottles into liquid may depend more on the temperature of the liquid or bottle, than the age of the container. BPA can also be found in breast milk. More information can be found at http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/media/questions/sya-bpa.cfm
On the 8th May 2009 The Environment Agency included BPA in the Existing Substances Regulation (ESR) substances of potential risk in UK list. You can read more here http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business/topics/pollution/39131.aspx
In 1988, an international code system for identifying the types of resin used to make many bottles and containers was introduced by the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) to boost recycling.
It meant that for the first time, recycling manufacturers in the UK and other countries had a unified code system to work with.
Make sure to check the labels and bottom of plastic bottles for the SPI codes, which appear as recycling triangles with numbers and letter codes.
The SPI Code System
1 - PET
2 - HDPE
3 – V/PVC
4 - LDPE
5 - PP
6 - PS
7 - OTHER
Polycarbonate plastics fall into the "Other" category and have a recycling label 7 on the bottom. However, because #7 labeling is the "other" category, not all plastics marked #7 contain BPA. The only true way to know if an item contains BPA is to get the information from the manufacturer.
Plastic number 5 is a softer plastic used in some baby bottles and is BPA free, it is also know as polypropylene or PP in the SPI codes. Butter, margarine tubs and yogurt pots are also packaged in polypropylene. This safer plastic alternative is what our twist caps and sports bottle tops are made from, including the choice of a stainless steel cap.
The Food and Drug Administration Opinion:
"Based on our ongoing review, we believe there is a large body of evidence that indicates that FDA-regulated products containing BPA currently on the market are safe and that exposure levels to BPA from food contact materials, including for infants and children, are below those that may cause health effects. However, we will continue to consider new research and information as they become available.
At this time, FDA is not recommending that anyone discontinue using products that contain BPA while we continue our risk assessment process. However, concerned consumers should know that several alternatives to polycarbonate baby bottles exist, including glass baby bottles."Source: Food and Drug Administration. 14 April. 2008. U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services. 29 April. 2008. http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/bpa.html