New York Times article on BPA (bisphenol A)
While some have written it off as "junk science", others are not taking the presence of bisphenol A (BPA) in their plastics or their bodies lightly. A presidential panel on cancer and the environment concluded that the link between BPA and several diseases, including cancer, is growing; BPA is one of many that fall under the title of "endocrine disruptors". Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that act on the body's receptors in cells - in the case of BPA, it acts similarly to estrogen hormones.
After reading Nina Baker's The Body Toxic, I too, am beginning to question the safety of man-made products and their dubious chemistry. Unfortunately, current U.S. policy states that chemicals are only banned if they are proven to be harmful. I am strongly in favor of the European Union's "precautionary principle", which states that if there are any plausible health concerns related to a specific chemical, it is banned until proven otherwise.
There are simple and easy steps to reducing BPA exposure, however. Plastics that contain the chemical are clearly marked with a "7", although not all items labeled "7"' contain it. Secondly, stop microwaving plastic containers! Once microwaved/treated with boiling water, BPA's rate of leeching into food or beverage is increased by a startling 50% (Baker). I don't know about you, but the phrase "better safe than sorry" sounds especially appealing in the case of endocrine disruptors.
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