Bisphenol-a, or BPA is widely used in the making of the hard, clear, and nearly unbreakable plastic called polycarbonate. Studies and tests show that small amounts of BPA are leaching from polycarbonate containers into foods and liquids and possibly causing health problems.

Avoiding the chemical BPA is much harder than expected. Those with young children and infants need to be concerned even more so.  The Toxin-Free Infants and Toddlers Act will go into effect on July 1, 2013 in California.  Bisphenol A will be banned in baby bottles and sippy cups in California.

Some quick tips to minimize BPA exposure:

• Use BPA free water bottles and baby bottles
• Eat fresh food whenever possible. Select frozen food over canned food, this includes infant formula sold in cans.
• Eat at home as much as possible, to ensure compliance with your goals
• Store and cook food in glass containers
• Recycle any scratched plastic containers
• In general, Avoid food and plastics with the recycling code 3 or 7 on the bottom
• Avoid putting hot or boiling liquids in plastic containers
• Wash your hands after touching cash register receipts

Breast Cancer Fund recently conducted tests of canned foods aimed at young children. They found significant traces of BPA in several national brands including Campbell’s soup and Chef Boyardee pasta.

Food and  Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a January 2010 update on Bisphenol A that says it many not be safe for children and infants.  In its report on BPA, the National Toxicology Program expressed “some concern for effects on the brain, behavior, and prostate gland in fetuses, infants, and children at current human expo­sures to bisphenol A.”  It appears that young children have immature immune systems that may not detoxify BPA as well as adults. Health and Human Services has a BPA avoidance page.

If you are feeding an infant formula, make sure you are buying BPA-free product. Look carefully at the label and call the company to verify. Only use BPA free water bottles.

Environmental Working Group has a guide to avoiding BPA Exposure. The upshot is to eat more fresh food, use alternatives to canned items, and to use glass containers when heating food in microwaves.

A research article from the National Institute of Health’s Environmental Health Perspectives echoes the issues and studied 20 people before and after an attempt to reduce BPA exposure.

Some interesting tidbits on BPA:

“FDA estimates that babies have 12.5 times more BPA exposure than adults, and EWG is concerned that FDA has seriously under-estimates exposures for many babies. Recent tests by Environmental Working Group and the Canadian government, and a 1990s test by FDA show BPA leaching from metal cans into all brands of liquid formula. Powdered formula appears to be BPA-free, therefore EWG recommends that parents choose powdered formula if your baby tolerates it.”

“Almost all canned foods sold in the United States have a BPA-based epoxy liner that leaches BPA into the food. EWG tested 97 canned foods and found detectable levels of BPA in more than half of the foods. The highest concentrations were in canned meats, pasta and soups.”

“Less BPA leaches from plastic water bottles and food containers than found in canned foods and baby formula. Nevertheless it is good to take simple precautions to reduce your exposure.”

Clear Plastic and BPA

Any product made of hard, clear plastic may be made from polycarbonate unless the manufacturer specifically states that it’s BPA-free. One way to check is to look for the recycling triangle stamp on or near the bottom on an item: polycarbonate plastics should have the numeral 7 in the triangle, sometimes with the letters PC for polycarbonate.

Unfortunately, 7 is a catchall “other” category for a variety of plastic items some of which do not contain BPA. If the plastic is soft and pliable, it is probably not made with BPA.

Microwaving

Plenty states that microwaving items causing BPA exposure situation is even worse. – “Some of the products would be expected to contain BPA, such as a Rubbermaid Premier container with a #7 recycling code, which includes polycarbonate plastic, known to be made with BPA. But to everyone’s surprise (including ours), BPA was also found to leach from containers with recycling #s 1, 2 and 5.”  Use ceramic or glass when microwaving.

BPA cash and cash register receipts

Small amounts of BPA were found on one dollar bills. BPA residue is also found on cash register receipts printed on thermal paper. Wash your hands often!

“Because the BPA used in thermal paper is not chemically bound, it is a concern, Schreder says. “We are definitely concerned about these levels of BPA in receipts because BPA is present in an unbound form, where it can easily transfer to our skin.”

BPA has been found in the bloodstream of pregnant US women.

Read more about BPA in Canned in Packaged Foods