Dangerous Plastics:
The BPA Problem
Previous-
AP/AOL
Time to Give BPA the Boot?
Rodent studies of bisphenol A, used in polycarbonate bottles, food cans and other products, have linked the synthetic estrogen to a host of human diseases. Scientists say the chemical can alter cell behavior at very low levels -- in the parts per trillion range -- yet humans are consistently exposed to BPA at levels 10 to 100 times greater.
Click through our gallery as USA Today shares why more and more U.S. retailers are giving BPA the boot.
· Article: The Toxic Legacy of BPA
First Slide: Which Products Have ItRelated Links:
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Which Products Contain BPA
BPA is found in the resin in can linings, in the polycarbonate in baby bottles, in dental sealants and elsewhere. The longer a liquid sits in a container made of BPA, the more BPA can leach into the product.
Next: The Worst Leaching Occurs ...Related Links:
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When Worst Leaching Occurs
As we wash polycarbonates such as baby bottles in hot water or heat them in the microwave, more leaching of BPA can occur. The hotter the liquid in a container, the more BPA can leach. The older the container, the more BPA can leach.
Next: Who's Most at RiskRelated Links:
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Who's Most at Risk
Scientists say fetuses and infants are especially at risk because they are still developing major parts of their body and BPA can alter how their genes are activated. In experiments that looked at the reproductive systems of rodents -- which scientists say are comparable to humans -- doses similar to what a newborn would ingest from a bottle caused cells to divide at a faster rate and led to enlarged prostates and, eventually, prostate cancer.
Next: Adverse Health AffectsRelated Links:
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AP
Adverse Health Affects
Some medical conditions that have been associated with BPA in rodents:
· Early onset of puberty
· Obesity
· Diabetes
· Hyperactivity
· Breast cancer
· Impaired immune function
· Sperm defects
· Prostate cancer and disease
· Impaired reproductive development
Links between BPA and prostate cancer have only been shown in rats.
Next: How to Avoid BPARelated Links:
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Getty Images
How to Avoid BPA
BPA is found in polycarbonate plastic, including most shatterproof baby bottles and sports water bottles, toys, dental sealants, food cans and microwavable food containers. Some of these products are available without BPA. Consumers can also avoid any No. 7 plastic, which typically contains BPA.
Next: Retailers Take ActionRelated Links:
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Getty Images
More Retailers Ban BPA
Toys 'R' Us announced Monday that it will phase out bottles and other "baby feeding products" containing BPA by the end of the year. Wal-Mart last week said that it will stop selling baby bottles made with BPA by early next year.
Nalgene, which makes plastic water bottles popular with hikers, and Playtex, which makes a variety of baby products, also say they'll stop using BPA, an ingredient in polycarbonate plastic.
Next: Find BPA-Free ProductsRelated Links:
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BornFree/AP
Keeping Baby BPA-Free
Stanford University pediatrician Alan Greene, author of 'Raising Baby Green', encourages parents to reduce their children's exposure to BPA. "I wouldn't use it for my children," says Greene, a father of four.
Check out the following link for a blog that keeps an up-to-date list of baby products without the chemical.
· Blog: Z Report on BPA
Next: An Opposing ViewRelated Links:
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Getty Images
An Opposing View
The American Chemistry Council, an industry group, notes that BPA has been used safely for decades and is an important ingredient that makes plastics flexible and shatter-resistant.
And Rick Locker, an attorney for the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, says parents can be confident that products made with BPA are safe. Locker notes that the Food and Drug Administration has not found that BPA poses a risk to children.
On AOL: Retailers in TroubleRelated Links:
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More on AOL:
Shoppers Spy Trouble
Have you entered a retailer's store lately and wondered how they are staying in business? Maybe it was the lack of fellow shoppers or the state of the store's displays that made you think the store was in trouble. We asked AOL users to tell us which stores they would not be surprised to see shut their doors for good. We culled through over 5,000 responses and came up with these common and/or interesting observations.
View Gallery: Retail Stores in TroubleMore in Money & Finance
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Recent Comments
Squirrelsnest38 11:10:16 PM Feb 14 2009
If it isn't healthy, then why in the F**K are they making it?!
NYY420 04:53:03 PM May 05 2008
Greed, Dishonesty, and evil are spinning this world out of control so fast.....only GOD can make it right again!!!!!!!!!!!
Now that i think about it, the only time it was right was before eve bit into that apple.
SUZYMUM316 04:54:32 AM Apr 29 2008
To everything we read is a pro or con... I mean everything right? What is one to believe? you can serch on the internet,the tv ,all the media's crap or truth? radio, wall sreet journal, all newspapers, magazine ads, gossip...I mean come on everyone...what is one to truly believe?? Thereis always a Pro and a con to everything. It is so sad. I am not disputing anyone's comments. I just wanted to state how SAD it is. We have so much else to worry about? What about our drinking water? Our earth? I could go on and on. No wonder why so many people get confused. then again right people..friends....we can always go with our Gut!!! in my life I went with my GUT! Again I trust it, howver, I have been wrong. Again the Pros and Cons. Who is right and who is wrong! Blessing to everyone that has commented.
Anfaani 04:15:27 AM Apr 29 2008
it is all about greed and money. and yes, it is the Food AND Drug administration, it is in their best interests to control the health and sickness ratio of people to keep the drug companies profits up. they will manufacture diseases to keep the drug companies rich. the drug companies run the FDA. so of course they will approve harmful things. the more sickness there is, the more money they make. if people are well, they lose money.
ZMolly1245 02:25:01 AM Apr 29 2008
" BPA has been used safely for decades".
Precisely! That's why there's so much early puberty, ADHD, etc.
It's been used, but not SAFELY!
ZMolly1245 02:22:12 AM Apr 29 2008
"The American Chemistry Council, an industry group, notes that BPA has been used safely for decades"
Precisely!! And that's why the increase in early puberty, ADHA and other chronic problems with children.
Duh!
It's been USED for decades, but NOT safely!
Jadesystem 01:53:35 AM Apr 29 2008
Our world is made up of chemicals. I say let them eat chemicals and
genetically-engineered foods.
Phoenix1249 12:32:49 AM Apr 29 2008
When my son was born in 1974, i decided to avoid as much "fake" food and chemicals as possible. I made an effort to eat helathful foods, and he was breastfed until he was 15 months old. solid foods were introduced at 5 months. I never used jarred baby foods, but pureed steamed veggies, fruits and stemaed chicken and made my own baby food. It wasn't even hard: just took unseasoned food from whatever I was aming for dinner, steamed it, and pureed it in a blender. He rarely got even a cold, and never has had an allergy. When he was 5, and a neighbor took him to McDonald's for lunch, he was unable to eat the burgers. HE said they tasted "yucky." He was used to REAL food. As an adult, he;s no food fanatic, but he still avoids fast food, does not smoke, never drinks more than a single glass of wine with dinner (no other alcohol), never used druigs of any kind, and prefers a wide variety of good foods. He was never a picky eater, but rather selective as to quality.
He's strong, lean and healt
SPTZBM1998 12:19:57 AM Apr 29 2008
First off, BpA is only an ingredient used to make polycarbonate plastic, which is totally safe! The BpA is polymerized during the manufacturing process into polycarbonate, and the BpA is changed into a harmless form. If you actually read the testing criteria, you have to consume 1,300 lbs. of polycarbonate plastic for it to even show up in your system.
Secondly, the #7 symbol on the bottom of a plastic container stands for "other" or mixed types of plastic. Not everything with a 7 on it is polycarbonate.
Use your brains people, don't believe all the propaganda these ersatz scientists are feeding you! And yes, I know what I'm talking about, I work in the plastics industry, but have nothing to do with making baby bottles or water bottles.
Mystic3695 12:19:24 AM Apr 29 2008
XOXOGinJointXOXO 11:32:35 PM Apr 28 2008
Report This! THey should be testing this crap on humans, not animals!
obviously they are you idiot
