toxinsThe common plastic additive bisphenol A has been getting a lot of attention for a while now. It’s a hormone disruptor that can be found in almost everybody, and animal studies have linked it to breast and prostate cancer as well as infertility. In April of 2008, the National Toxicology Program raised concerns that exposure to BPA during pregnancy and childhood could impact the developing breast and prostate, hasten puberty, and affect behavior in American children. Knowing how you’re exposed is among the best ways to minimize further exposure.

How’d it get there?

Studies show canned foods are a common source of daily BPA exposure in our lives. Cans of soft drink generally contain less BPA than canned pasta or soup. The worst foods tested contain enough BPA to put pregnant women and formula-fed infants much closer to dangerous levels than the government typically allows. Even some liquid infant formula is packed in cans lined with BPA, which seems ludicrous given the special vulnerabilities of children’s developing systems.

In addition to canned food, certain plastics are often made with BPA. Called polycarbonate, these plastics are rigid and clear or translucent and usually marked with a recycle label #7.  Not all #7 containers are made with BPA, but it makes for a reasonable and useful guideline for avoiding a category of plastics. Some reusable polycarbonate water bottles , marketed as non-leaching because they minimize plastic taste and odor, may still leach trace amounts of BPA. But hold on before you run out and buy a metal water bottle – make sure you know what you’re getting. Many reusable metal water bottles are lined with the same BPA-leaching plastic found in cans of food.

How do you get rid of it?

Unfortunately, BPA is so widely used and manufactured that you’re not likely to eliminate it from your system altogether. There are some steps you can take to minimize your exposure, though:

  • Complete a comprehensive Detox at least once per year
  • When possible, and especially if you’re pregnant and when feeding a young child, limit the amount of canned food in your diet.
  • Avoid using old or scratched polycarbonate bottles. If you’re in the market for a new water bottle, look for stainless steel water bottles that do not have a plastic liner.
  • Don’t use plastic containers to heat food in the microwave. Opt for ceramic, glass, or other microwavable dishware.
  • Soft or cloudy-colored plastic does not contain BPA.
  • If you’re formula feeding your infant, consider using powdered formulas packaged in non-steel cans. Also, choose baby bottles made from glass or plastics that don’t leach BPA (like polypropylene or polyethylene).

Despite mounting evidence of severe health risks from two hormone-disrupting chemicals widely used in plastics, the U.S. and Australian government has been slow to regulate the substances.

Phthalates, used to soften plastic and make it flexible, are utilized in products ranging from medical devices (including tubing, catheters and intravenous bags) to car interiors and baby products like toys and teethers. Bisphenol A, which makes plastic hard, translucent and shatter-resistant, is used in bottled water and baby bottles, food containers, dental products and the lining of food cans.

The European Union banned three forms of phthalates from children’s items in 2005 and restricted three others. Canada has not used phthalates in children’s products since 1998, and California introduced a similar ban in October.

If you want to read more about this issue, get your hands on a copy of “Slow Death by A Rubber Duck” as it is incredibly well researched and written.

B – Scrambled egg with zucchini and rocket

L – Salad of red quinoa, roasted beetroot, cucumber, rocket and parsley from my garden with a small can of Greenseas tuna

D – flathead with a coleslaw of red & white cabbage, carrot, parsley and a dressing of lemon juice, EVOO and a little sheep’s yoghurt