September 13, 2007

How to Recognize Bisphenol-A in Plastic Bottles and Containers

250px-Bisphenol_A.svg.png We've been reading up on the risks is Bisphenol-A (BPA), a chemical found in hard plastics that has been linked to cancer and hormonal disruption.

EWG, the Environmental Working Group, offers the following tips for avoiding exposure to BPA:

* Cut down on canned foods. To keep food from reacting with the metal of the can, a plastic coating made from bisphenol A is commonly applied to the inside of the can. This coating appears as a solid color on the inside of the can, and can leach into the food stored inside.

* Avoid eating or drinking from polycarbonate plastics – used in such products as hard plastic baby bottles, 5 gallon water cooler bottles, hard plastic water bottles, plastic silverware, and Lexan products. You can check for the type of plastic on the bottom of the bottle – polycarbonate bottles may be labeled with recycling number 7 ("Other" type of plastic) or may contain the letters "PC" below the recycling symbol. Bisphenol A may leach out of these types of bottles into your beverage or food. Alternatives include bottles and other materials made from glass, stainless steel, or polypropylene bottles labeled number 5 on the bottom (translucent, not transparent).

So, you may want to think about replacing your Nalgene bottles and your plastic sippy cups and baby bottles, and looking for alternatives.