Another reason to shun plastic

by Laurel Turk

April 1st, 2008

Recent research appears to indicate that some products made with polycarbonate plastic could become dangerous over their lifespan. A chemical called bisphenol A or BPA, used to make most plastic baby bottles, many food and beverage containers, aluminum can linings and even some kinds of dental sealants, can leach into liquids and food to which it comes into contact. The leaching occurs over time as the plastic breaks down due to normal use, repeated heating and cooling, and being washed with harsh detergents. Although there have been no studies conducted on humans, scientists have linked very low doses of bisphenol A exposure to cancers and impaired immune and reproductive function in mice.

So what can you do to avoid coming into contact with BPA? Well the obvious and “greener” choice is to use less plastic or as little as possible. You can also avoid heating your leftovers in the plastic storage container and wash with a mild detergent in lukewarm water. Or if you are a concerned parent, switch your baby’s bottles to glass or a safer non-polycarbonate plastic.