BPA (bisphenol A) Associated With Aggression in Young Girls

I recall over ten years being told by a friend that plastic water bottles are dangerous and if I froze them (something that I did everyday in the summer before going on a bike ride) they would release a deadly toxin. I was a bit scared at the time but over the years I never really heard that much uproar about this “deadly toxin” so I continued to use countless water bottles, plastic baby bottles and sippy cups (for three children). Then we moved to the oppressive heat of Las Vegas where no one ever leaves home without a plastic water bottle in hand, and yes, it is usually frozen! I can’t even fathom the amount of plastic water bottles my family and I used over our 5 years here in Las Vegas and how many I drank out of during my last pregnancy!

So, while the recent reports that BPA (bisphenol A) the plastic hardener and polycarbonate plastic byproduct commonly used in baby bottles, plastic water bottles, sippy cups, water bottles, aluminum can linings, recyclable bottles, eyeglasses, and cars, DVD and CD cases and some dental sealants is linked to an increasing assortment of harmful health effects was no big surprise to me, it definitely made me think. Recent findings reveal that there is a connection between prenatal exposure to BPA (bisphenol A) and aggression in girls at age 2. Thank God I just had a boy!

Let’s take a look at some of the statistics:

• BPA has been used for over 30 years to make plastic water bottles and various shatter-proof products
• BPA can also been found in everyday paper receipts
• BPA’s use is quickly growing and can be found in carbonless copy and thermal imaging papers.

BPA has been associated with an extensive list of harmful effects that include a heightened threats of brain, reproductive, cardiac, and immune system diseases and disorders; problems with liver function testing; interruptions in chemotherapy treatment; and links with serious health problems.

• In urine tests, BPA is found in the over 93 percent of Americans!

It was previously believed that the harmful BPA (bisphenol A) effects of BPA were only detectable as a result of great exposure. It was also believed that the seepage of the harmful chemical was only effected by the temperature of the plastic containers but studies have found that BPA has negative effects at doses lower than current FDA standards and stays in the body longer than was previously thought; leaking into beverages that were in plastic containers no matter what their temperature was; causing long-term damage, which can become hereditary.

The FDA recently proclaimed that it is revaluating its old views on the effects of BPA and plans to release its new stance at the end of next month. The researchers believe that the extended analysis of is a waste of the FDA’s time and money because there is already enough evidence of BPA’s effects. Bu t many believe that the ruthless criticism of the FDA’s two studies are merited as they are industry-sponsored.

Laws banning the sale of specific products that are known to contain BPA (bisphenol A) are being put into effect in some states in the United States and Canada and the aluminum beverage containers are becoming very popular. Some states are exploring the banning of all food that comes into contact with materials containing BPA. Canada made the precedent by announcing its plans to ban BPA, referring to it as a toxin while a few retail stores and manufacturers have revealed their strategies to discontinue the manufacturing of products containing BPA. I hope the other states will follow suit and I will be going out an buying some BPA-free aluminum water bottles for my whole family!

* Warning: SIGG brand aluminum water bottles were recently recalled due to findings that trace amounts of BPA (bisphenol A) were found in their lining.