One of the best non-profit resource groups I’ve found, Environmental Working Group does a great job providing information to the public about the dangerous chemicals that we come into contact with every day. In fact, their website is loaded with helpful information about one of the most talked-about chemicals in use today—bisphenol A, or BPA.

BPA is found in hundreds of products, including hard plastics and the lining of canned foods, but many studies have linked it to negative health affects in humans, especially during fetal development. If you’re concerned that BPA might be in some of the products you use and want help making better choices, click here for more information.

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Last week I told you about a new report just released by the President’s Cancer Panel—a panel of experts created in 1971 to keep the president informed about the activities of the National Cancer Program. It’s a 200-page report that warns about the dangers of environmental pollution on the nation’s health and urges government to take a stronger position on the regulation of these chemicals in our environment.

In an effort to determine the effects of environmental toxins on our health, the PCP report reviews the dangers of exposure to industrial chemicals that persist in the environment (like PCBs), as well as insecticides, herbicides and fertilizers; heavy metals such as mercury and arsenic; air pollution; tobacco smoke; contaminated drinking water (including pharmaceutical drug contamination); electromagnetic waves (think cell phones); UV radiation; and even military chemical exposure. What’s more, it gives recommendations to help reduce our exposure to these harmful toxins. Here are some of the highlights:

• “Parents and child care providers should choose foods, house and garden products, play spaces, toys, medicines, and medical tests that will minimize children’s exposure to toxics. 
• Both mothers and fathers should avoid exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals [such as BPA] and known or suspected carcinogens prior to a child’s conception and throughout pregnancy and early life, when the risk of damage is greatest. 
• Family exposure to numerous occupational chemicals can be reduced by removing shoes before entering the home and washing work clothes separately from other family laundry.
• Filtering home tap or well water can decrease exposure to numerous known or suspected carcinogens and endocrine-disrupting chemicals.  Unless the home water source is known to be contaminated, it is better to use filtered tap water instead of commercially bottled water. 
• Storing and carrying water in stainless steel, glass, or BPA-free and phthalate-free containers will reduce exposure to endocrine-disrupting and other chemicals that may leach into water from plastics. Similarly, microwaving in ceramic or glass instead of plastic containers will reduce exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals that may leach into food when containers are heated. 
• Exposure to pesticides can be decreased by choosing food grown without pesticides or chemical fertilizers and washing conventionally grown produce to remove residues.
• Exposure to antibiotics, growth hormones and toxic runoff from livestock feed lots can be minimized by eating free-range meat.
• Avoiding or minimizing consumption of processed, charred, and well-done meats will reduce exposure to carcinogens.
• Individuals can choose products made with non-toxic substances or environmentally safe chemicals.
• Reducing or ceasing landscaping pesticide and fertilizer use will keep these chemicals from contaminating drinking water supplies.” 

Though all of this information at once may seem a little alarming, I can’t stress enough how important it is that the danger of toxin exposure is finally receiving the attention it should. My hope now is that more people will take responsibility for their health—and the health of our planet—by taking steps to reduce toxins in their daily lives.

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It’s scary to think about how many toxins are out there in the world, believe me I know. If it isn’t one thing it’s another—pesticides in our food, pollutants in our air, chemicals in our tap water—but what if it wasn’t just you that you had to worry about?

If you or someone you know is expecting, you’ll want to check out this website: The Endocrine Disruption Exchange is a non-profit organization dedicated to studying the effects of low-dose exposure to harmful chemicals called “endocrine disruptors” on fetal development and human health. Endocrine disruptors are like imposters in your body, and they basically act like hormones and interfere with normal physiological function.

On their website is an amazing interactive chart that shows the effects of three common endocrine-disrupting chemicals—bisphenol A (BPA), dioxins, and phthalates—during each week of fetal development, and they plan to add more chemicals to the chart as they continue to analyze the available scientific evidence.

It may seem a little too technical at first, but the visual is really neat. When you click on a specific chemical, it shows you just how low of a dose of that chemical can affect the healthy development of a baby in the womb. They even provide a summary of each study so you can learn more. Be sure to check it out!

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You know how I feel about toxins, right? Right. So when I heard that the FDA had finally updated its warning about one of the most harmful toxic chemicals out there today, I thought to myself, “It’s about time!”

The folks at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have been dragging their feet for some time now on the issue of bisphenol A (or BPA for short). BPA, which I’m sure you’ve heard of by now unless you’ve been living under a rock, is one of the most prevalent chemicals in use today, and it’s found in 90% of the population—which means yes, it’s probably inside you right now!

BPA is used in the lining of canned foods and in many hard plastic products like those reusable water bottles you see everywhere. One of the most concerning uses of BPA, however, is its presence in plastic baby bottles and ‘sippy’ cups, as well as in containers for infant formula and food.

Whereas before they said BPA was ‘safe’ for infants, the FDA has since changed its tune. Now when you go on their website and research BPA, you can see that their new statement says they are concerned about the “potential effects of BPA on the brain, behavior, and prostate gland in fetuses, infants and young children”. So as a result the FDA is now supporting the removal of BPA from containers that are used by infants. Well, thank goodness!

But still, let’s not forget how BPA affects adults too—another study just came out that confirmed the link between high BPA levels and cardiovascular disease, showing that people who have the highest amounts of BPA in their urine also had the highest rates of heart disease. How’s that for a wake-up call? Just something to keep in mind the next time you consider buying canned foods or filling up your water bottle.

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As of May 12th the first US state has banned the use of the chemical BPA in baby bottles. The state of Minnesota has ruled it illegal for manufacturers of baby bottles and sippy cups containing the toxic chemical BPA to sell them to retailers in the state. Similar bans are under consideration in California, New York and Connecticut. A nationwide ban has been proposed to Congress.

I think this is the first step to the realization of how toxic this chemical is to human health. Just like with DDT it unfortunetly takes us (meaning the US government) 40 to 50 years to acknowledge the harmful health effects of a chemical we (meaning the US government) put into commercial circulation.

BPA, which is Bisphenol A, has been used in commerce for more than 50 years, even though the first evidence of it being hazardous to human health was shown in the 1930s. It is one among many chemicals used that is an endocrine disruptor, meaning it can mimic the body’s own hormones but with terrible health consequences. It is especially harmful to babies in early development. The ban of use of BPA in baby bottles is only the first step to ridding the environment and the human body of this chemical. It is a key component in the production of almost everything made of clear, hard plastic, as well as used in medical and dental devices, dental fillings and sealants, household electronics and coatings on the inside of almost all food and beverage cans.

The best thing for babies and young children is to avoid using or buying products containing BPA, such as the baby bottles, sippy cups, teething rings, pacifiers, and toys. There are many companies now that are making such items as BPA free.

For those adults also concerned about the health effects of this chemical, as we all should be, in addition to trying to avoid use of products with the chemical, consider a round of detoxification programs. This would be programs including Renew Life’s CleanseSMART, Liver Detox, and Kidney Cleanse products. These products can help stimulate the natural elimination of chemicals such as BPA from your body.

In the meantime, avoid buying BPA containing products, and keep your fingers crossed all of the United States will join Minnesota’s lead.

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