Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical produced in large quantities for use primarily in the production of polycarbonate plastics. It is found in various products including shatterproof windows, eyewear, water bottles, and epoxy resins that coat some metal food cans, bottle tops, and water supply pipes.
BPA is short for 'Bisphenol A' which is a chemical compound that's added during the production of some plastics and resins. It's predominantly used as a hardening agent to help plastics solidify and to coat the inside of metal products, particularly in plastic bottles, cups and tins of canned food.
BPA is found in plastics and stainless steel is an alloy (mostly iron, with chromium and nickel as the alloying elements). The process of manufacture of stainless steel will burn off all plastics.
The good news is that most food cans are now BPA-free. And the metal can industry says the alternative linings it developed to replace BPA coatings are tested to be safe and effective.
The most reliable way to check whether an item is BPA-free is to consult the plastic identification code number — usually stamped on the bottom of the container. There are seven categories, where numbers 1 to 6 are free of BPA. This means that only those printed with the number 7 will contain the chemical.
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical produced in large quantities for use primarily in the production of polycarbonate plastics. It is found in various products including shatterproof windows, eyewear, water bottles, and epoxy resins that coat some metal food cans, bottle tops, and water supply pipes.
Although BPA is fat-soluble and thus can accumulate in fatty tissues, animal and human data suggest it tends to be rapidly metabolized, with elimination thought to be virtually complete within 24 hours of acute exposure.
Drinking sufficient water is essential to flushing out toxins such as BPA. A good rule of thumb is to drink half your body weight in ounces each day (for example, if you weigh 150 pounds, you should aim to drink 75 ounces of water a day).
Why am I being warned about potential exposure to BPA in canned and bottled food and drinks? BPA is on the Proposition 65 list because it may harm the developing baby, and it may harm the female reproductive system, including the ovaries and eggs.
Due to direct and prolonged contact with the skin, clothing articles can thus be a potential source of dermal exposure to BPA. In addition, for young children, oral exposure due to sucking on clothes can contribute to total BPA exposure.
In the second study, BPA levels were measured directly from water taken from filtered compared with unfiltered taps. We observed significantly higher BPA levels in water from unfiltered taps (approximately 0.40 μg/L) compared with taps with filtration systems (approximately 0.04 μg/L).
Stainless steel bottles, which are unlined, were also free of BPA.
Researchers have linked BPA to developmental and health problems in children, including learning and behavior conditions like Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), anxiety and depression; early puberty in girls; diabetes; obesity; and heart disease.
The concentrations of BPA by food types ranged from 5.88–21.3 ng/g in canned beef, 2.94–6.36 ng/g in canned chicken, 0.78–7.85 ng/g in frozen fish, 2.28–9.40 ng/g in dried fish, 1.66–26.3 ng/g in canned fish, 1.20–17.5 ng/g in crayfish, 1.45–3.43 ng/g in processed cheese, 0.20–4.80 ng/g in canned evaporated milk, 0.41– ...
Stainless steel water bottles are typically BPA and toxin-free, which prevents rusting, corrosion, and microorganisms' growth on its surface and in your water. Stainless steel water bottles are safer than plastic and aluminium water bottles. These materials may contain poisons that might disrupt our bodies' processes.
PFAS may also be present in waste sludge and in certain metal plated or coated products. An EPA rule effective 2015 banned PFOS use in wetting agents/fume suppressants (WA/FS) in chrome plating and chromium anodizing operations. However, other PFAS are still used in WA/FS and in other metal finishing processes.
Since Tupperware is such a popular brand of plastic food storage containers, it is not surprising how many people have questioned whether Tupperware material contains BPA. Tupperware officially states that since 2010, they have not sold items containing BPA.
BPA can mimic estrogen to interact with estrogen receptors α and β, leading to changes in cell proliferation, apoptosis, or migration and thereby, contributing to cancer development and progression.
BPA (and other bisphenols) is often used to line metal cans to keep them from rusting. However, this harmful chemical can leach into the food that we then eat. In fact, in one study of 204 food samples, BPA was found in 73% of canned foods, compared to just 7% of fresh and frozen options [1].
A study shows that administering coenzyme Q10 reverses damage done to germinative cells by BPA, a contaminant found in many kinds of plastic. A study shows that administering coenzyme Q10 reverses damage done to germinative cells by BPA, a contaminant found in many kinds of plastic.
In the pig model, about 65% of the BPA diffused through the skin. For human skin around 46% diffused through. Both types of tissue were also able to metabolize BPA.
Some ways you can detox microplastics from your system include infrared sauna use, phospholipid supplements, and extra liver support (through supplements like liposomal glutathione).
BPA may be anticipated as a probable human carcinogen. Studies using in vitro cell lines, rodent models, and epidemiological analysis have convincingly shown the increasing susceptibility to cancer at doses below the oral reference dose set by the Environmental Protection Agency for BPA.
Here is what we know: there is BPA in clothing, BPA can affect our health in all the ways explained above, in certain instances chemicals found in clothing can be absorbed by our skin. However, all hope is not lost. There are BPA-free clothing options, with more companies focusing on this everyday.
Even more concerning is the fact that washing your hands after handling these receipts doesn't mitigate its effects. It absorbs into your skin at a depth that cannot be washed away, so it's possible the chemical can penetrate your bloodstream (more on this later).