BPA...and All the Rest!

The hype about BPA or bisphenol A, has deserved all the attention it has gotten. However, the spotlight on toxic chemicals needs to shine a bit bigger than this. BPA is one chemical in a larger classification of chemicals called bisphenols. There is no regulatory statute that governs the introduction of chemicals used in consumer products and this is a very real and serious problem. We feel as though we are being savvy about using products labeled BPA-free when in reality, a manufacturer can choose another, yet untested chemical that may be effecting the same...if not a more dangerous result on our health.

The long list of chemicals that are considered endocrine disruptors or toxicants is very long. According the the Breast Cancer Fund, there are roughly 84,000 chemicals that have been introduced into consumer products. When the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 was introduced, the 62,000 that were in use were "grandfathered" in. BPA was one such endocrine disrupting agent that remained in use without any testing. After 1976, chemical manufacturers have only been required to test a newly introduced chemical if there is current data available on it. The burden of proof of hazard falls on the EPA and they have limited time to produce the research before the manufacturer is able to send it off into consumer's hands and into the environment.

So now as we look for the "BPA-free" label, we cannot be certain that the products we are using are free of agents that can cause harm in our bodies...and our loved ones. Some of the other bisphenols, such as BPB, BPS and BPAF, have been shown in studies to produce endocrine-disrupting activity much like that of BPA. Albeit, these studies have been small in number, but they are being used in products labeled "BPA-free". And if these preliminary studies don't look good...the big question is...who wants to be the guinea pig?

There are a couple of ways to approach this in the here and now. First of all, step back in time and pick up the old glass bottle. Look for food packaged in glass and start your meals with whole, fresh foods. It's better nutrition for us anyway. Second, take the time to read about the Safe Chemicals Act of 2011 that was introduced by Senator Lautenberg. The beauty of this approach is that it seeks to shift the burden of proof of safety to the chemical manufacturers and prevent the introduction of chemicals only until they are found to be safe for us and the environment. This is better for our health and a lot less effort than having to clean up our health and the environment after the damage has been done!