There seems to be no end these days to the threats from man-made chemicals in our food and environment. The latest scare is bisphenol-A (BPA), a chemical used to make clear polycarbonate plastics.
The Canadian government has announced it will ban the sale of baby bottles made with BPA, and the United States National Toxicology Program has expressed concerns about the potential effects of BPA on all humans, but especially on fetuses, infants, and young children. Members of both the U.S. House and Senate have proposed banning BPA from all children's products.
Studies have shown toxic effects of BPA in mice and rats, but no convincing evidence has been found that BPA harms humans. Representatives of the chemical industry insist that products containing BPA are safe, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration currently agrees, although that government agency has now established a task force to study the issue.
In addition to its use in the manufacture of plastic baby bottles and cups, BPA is also present in virtually any product made of hard, clear plastics, as well as in the linings of almost all cans containing food. The greatest exposure of adults to this chemical results from the BPA leaching from these can linings into the foods sealed inside. Leaching may also take place when foods are heated or microwaved in containers made with BPA.
It's not certain yet whether BPA is a bona fide danger. Until more information is available, however, it seems prudent to keep children away from any products containing the chemical. Most, but not all, baby bottles contain BPA if they have the numeral "7" stamped inside the triangular recycling symbol on the bottom. Glass baby bottles are obviously a BPA-free alternative.
As far as adult exposure to BPA is concerned, it's more a question of how to avoid the stuff rather than whether to avoid it. One approach: Rely more on fresh or frozen vegetables and fruits, prepare home-made soups, and don't microwave food in plastic containers.
Quite frankly, I'm not convinced enough of BPA's power to harm adults that I'm ready to tell my wife or children to make a special effort to avoid BPA-containing products. Most of us, I believe, are at greater risk from the kinds and amounts of the foods we eat than from the chemicals present in our food containers.
