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| BPA Exposure from Beverage Bottles Builds Up in Bodies |
| Friday, 22 May 2009 07:04 |
 A new study from Harvard confirms that when beverages are consumed from Bisphenol A (BPA) containing polycarbonate plastic bottles, BPA ends up in the human body. Most sodas and bottled water are packaged in BPA containing polycarbonate plastic bottles.Studies have shown a link between BPA exposure and higher rates of diabetes, heart disease, and reproductive abnormalities. BPA is thought to mimic a bodies own hormones and in turn may disrupt endocrine functioning.
In the study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, researchers examined urinary BPA concentrations among 77 college students who had mostly abstained from eating and drinking from polycarbonate plastic containers for at least a week followed by a period when most cold beverages were consumed from polycarbonate plastic bottles. The researchers found that urinary BPA levels increased between 55 and 77% after the week of increased drinking from polycarbonate plastic bottles (where percent of increase depending on how closely the students followed directions with respect to only drinking from polycarbonate plastic bottles).
The researchers concluded that the findings suggest that people who regularly consume beverages from polycarbonate plastic bottles are likely to have higher circulating BPA levels and as such, may be at increased risk for associated health effects.
Consumers can avoid BPA exposure by consuming beverages from glassware and stainless steel bottles and by using glass or metal containers for food storage and ceramic or glass containers for microwave heating. Avoiding certain plastic wraps during storage and heating can also reduce BPA exposure levels.
Using BPA free plastics is especially important for pregnant women, breastfeeding women, babies, and young children given data suggesting an increased risk of associated health effects for these groups.
Recommended Reading and Products:
What's In This Stuff? By Patricia Thomas
"A Hugely useful resource for identifying products with hidden toxins that could affect your health."
Buy a stainless steel water bottle - or two, three ... "Having some of these around will prevent you from buying the small plastic water bottles. You will avoid the BPA exposure and do the planet a favor. Prices range from about $10 to $40. Amazon.com has pretty good prices but you can pick them up just about anywhere." Make sure you have plenty of non-plastic food storage and heating containers around "Having glass storage containers around is your insurance policy against heating things up in plastics which can leach BPA. Again, Amazon.com has pretty good darn prices on these but you can pick up sets at Target, Walmart etc... ." |
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